1.15kW continuous-wave generation by diode-side-pumped two-rod Nd:YAG laser

A high power and high efficiency laser head with five dual-line diode arrays for the side-pumped Nd:YAG rod is developed. By mounting two laser heads of this kind and a quartz 90^\circ rotator into a thermally-near-unstable symmetrical flat--flat resonator, a continuous-wave power output of 1157W at 1064nm is obtained with a beam quality factor M² of \sim39. To the authors' knowledge, this is the highest power output at 1064 nm for the diode-side-pumped two-rod Nd:YAG laser.