Coupled Optical Design Used For Nd:YVO₄ Laser End-pumped By A Laser Diode

This paper aims to design a optical coupling system, used for solid-state(Nd:YVO4) laser end-pumped by a laser diode. We use a new pump source in our design process, which unlike the 19 emitting point semiconductor laser diode array in many previous studies.This paper have two part, design the parameters of the optical coupling mirror by simulation, and evaluation of the effectiveness of optical coupling by experimental. First, we design the optical coupling system, used for Nd:YVO4 laser end-pumped by LD, and use Zemax software for simulation. From the simulation, we determine the best pump source - a single light emitting point of LD. We design parameters of the optical coupling system, including the lens focal length, diameter, location parameters, and do the error analysis of the system. Then, we set up a coupled system and the LD driver and cooling circuit, design the coupled system of fixed devices by frame structure. Finally, we do experiment, record the experimental data, observe the focusing spot. the diameter of the foucusing spot is 0.616mm, so experimental results consistent with the simulation.The pump source is a single light emitting point of the structure, so it greatly improves the quality of the output beam, and it also greatly simplifies the optical coupling system. In addtion, in the design of the coupling structure, we use the direct coupling way to alternative the fiber-couple structure. The beam of semiconductor laser, directly used for end-pumped for Nd:YVO4. The result of the experiment shows that, the design of coupling optical system meet the actual end-pumped needs, so this will greatly reduce the cost of the pump and coupling module.