Electro-optic Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd: YAG slab 1.3 μm laser

We report an electro-optic Q-switched Nd: YAG slab laser operating at 1.3 μm, based on a diode end-pumping configuration. Utilizing an off-axis positive-branch stable–unstable 57 mm long hybrid resonator with a Nd: YAG slab crystal, we achieved Q-switched laser pulses with an energy of 10.82 mJ and duration of 11 ns at a repetition rate of 1 kHz, corresponding to a peak power of 0.98 MW. The system delivered an optical-to-optical efficiency of 8.3% and a slope efficiency of 15.6%. The measured beam quality factors (M ²) were 1.20 and 1.48 along the orthogonal transverse axes. When the pump power surpassed the lasing threshold, simultaneous dual-wavelength emission at 1319 nm and 1338 nm was initiated, while the conventionally dominant 1064 nm line was effectively suppressed in the laser cavity. These results represent the first successful demonstration of a high-energy, short-pulse 1.3 μm slab laser using electro-optic Q-switching, opening new avenues for high-peak-power solid-state laser sources in 1.3 μm wavelength regime.