Vol. 28, Issue 3, pp. 191-200 (1998)

Abstract

Two methods of losses measurements: Findlay – Clay’s method and relaxation frequency method were verified for two types of diode pumped lasers. In the case of Nd:YAG laser with changeable output coupler, the results obtained for both methods were in good agreement However, there was observed a contradiction between the relatively high losses (about 10% for transmission losses of 5%) and very high slope efficiency (~50%) of this laser. The measurements of cavity losses via relaxation method were carried out for several types of microlasers made of Nd:YAG, Ng:GGG, Nd:YAP crystals and Nd:phosphate glass. There were obtained total losses (including transmission ones) on the range from 7% to 30%.