Diode-Laser-Pumped Monolithic Nd-Ylf Laser Operating At 1.053-Mu-M

We describe a monolithic diode-laser-pumped Nd:YLF minilaser that operates at 1.053-mu-m. By aligning the c axis of the Nd:YLF crystal parallel to the laser resonator axis we are able to suppress completely lasing on the (higher-gain) 1.047-mu-m transition of Nd:YLF We describe the design and fabrication of the laser and report its cw and gain-switched performance. Our measurements of the laser performance agree well with calculations.