Improving the performance of a neodymium aluminium borate microchip laser crystal by resonant pumping

Laser action at 1.06μm from a neodymium aluminium borate microchip laser crystal has been demonstrated under F3∕24 direct excitation at 882nm. We have found that the laser slope efficiency increases from 50% up to 70% when resonant pumping is used instead of the traditional I9∕24→F5∕24(808nm) pumping. We conclude that the reduction in the pump-induced heat generation achieved by resonant pumping is at the origin of this improvement.