7 kHz sub-nanosecond microchip laser amplified by a grazing incidence double pass slab amplifier

To obtain short pulse width and high peak power laser, a 7 kHz sub-nanosecond microchip laser amplified by a grazing incidence double pass slab amplifier is experimentally demonstrated in this Letter. We use a compact side-pumped Nd:YVO4 bounce amplifier with grazing incidence beam for achieving high gains and power extraction. Laser output power of 7.37 W at 7 kHz, 1.2 MW pulse peak power with 877 ps duration and 1.05 mJ energy, 25 pm spectral width, and near diffraction limited mode beam quality are achieved, and the optical-to-optical efficiency is 18%. The laser is packaged in a volume of 356 mm × 226 mm × 84 mm and may be used for applications such as laser altimeters and ladar systems.