Diode-pumped miniature solid-state laser: design considerations

The LED-direct pumped laser was considered theoretically as a way to miniaturize solid state lasers. The pumping efficiency of the system was calculated numerically by 3-D ray tracing. For LiNdP(4)O(12), an efficient Nd stoichiometric material, the threshold power density and the pump power density necessary to obtain a 5-mW output power under optimum output coupling conditions were calculated to be 20 W/cm(2) and 60 W/cm(2), respectively, assuming a crystal size of 50 microm x 50 microm x 5 mm.