Compact, low threshold Nd3+:YVO4 self-Raman laser at 1178nm

A compact low-threshold Raman laser at 1178 nm is experimentally realized by using a diode-end-pumped actively Q-switched Nd3+:YVO4 self-Raman laser. The threshold is 370 mW at a pulse repetition frequency of 5 kHz. The maximum Raman laser output is 182 mW with the pulse duration smaller than 20 ns at a pulse repetition frequency of 30 kHz with 1.8 W incident power. The optical efficiency from the incident power to the Raman laser is 10% and the slope efficieny is 13.5%.