Solid-state microlasers pumped by miniature flashlamps

Highly efficient solid-state neodymium microlasers pumped by an energy of 0.2–1 J were constructed. This energy was provided by flashlamps in which the discharge gap was less than 15 mm. In the free-running regime the lasing efficiency reached 2%, whereas in the Q-switched regime it was 1.3% and the pulse duration was 2 nsec.