A novel Nd, La:SrF 2 disordered crystal is prepared, and its continuous-wave wavelength tuning operation is performed for the first time. Employing a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based gold nanobipyramids (G-NBPs) saturable absorber, we obtain a compact diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd, La:SrF 2 laser. The stable Q-switched pulse operates with the shortest pulse duration of 1.15 µs and the maximum repetition rate of 41 kHz. The corresponding single pulse energy is 2.24 µJ. The results indicate that G-NBPs could be a promising saturable absorber applied to the diode-pumped solid state lasers (DPSSLs).

An efficient dual-wavelength laser-diode-pumped Nd:YAG ceramic laser operating at 1112 and 1116 nm is demonstrated. We obtain a maximum total output power of 3.43 W including a 1.77 W 1112 nm component and a 1.66 W 1116 nm component under a pump power of 16.1 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 23.7% and a total optical-to-optical efficiency of 21.3%.

A diode-pumped actively Q-switched Raman laser is demonstrated, with YVO4 employed as Raman active medium, based on a ceramic Nd:YAG laser operating at 1444 nm. The first-stokes Raman generation at 1657 nm is achieved. A maximum output power of as high as 612 mW is obtained under a pump power of 20.7 W and at a pulse repetition frequency rate of 20 kHz, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 3%.

A passively Q-switched Nd YAG eye-safe laser operating at 1444 nm with graphene as a saturable absorber is reported. Under a pump power of 23.7 W, the maximum average output power, minimum pulse width, pulse repetition rate and single pulse energy are 411 mW, 560 ns, 85 kHz, and 4.83 𝜇J, respectively. This is the first demonstration of a Nd:YAG eye-safe laser passively Q-switched by graphene.