Passively Q-switched, quasi-monolithic Nd:YAG ring lasers with high single-frequency output power

Summary form only. Passively Q-switched operation of solid-state lasers saturable absorbers is a simple and cost effective technique to achieve high peak powers in nano- and sub-nanosecond pulses. In the low power regime, microchip lasers are especially attractive due to their compactness and potential for mass production. However, if a high average output power is required, e.g. for pump sources of OPOs and OPGs, the use of these conventional, linear laser cavities is limited. Stable single-frequency operation can only be guaranteed at relatively low levels of average output power. Significantly higher single-frequency output powers have been achieved by Q-switched operation of nonplanar Nd:YAG ring lasers (NPROs) with discrete elements. In this contribution, we report the first demonstration of quasi-monolithic NPROs.