We present a novel approach to combine diode-pumped, moderately low-gain media with the advantages of an unstable cavity. To this end, we propose to utilize a spatially tailored gain profile in the active medium instead of using a graded reflectivity mirror to provide an eeffective shaping mechanism for the intra-cavity intensity distribution. The required gain profile can be easily generated with a state-of-the-art homogenized laser diode pump beam in an end-pumped configuration.

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Jörg Körner, Sanin Zulić, Antonio Lucianetti, Danijela Rostohar, Tomáš Mocek, Joachim Hein, and Malte C. Kaluza, "Highly efficient, cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG q-switch laser based on a gain modulated unstable resonator design," Proc. SPIE 11033, High-Power, High-Energy, and High-Intensity Laser Technology IV, 1103307 (Presented at SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics: April 03, 2019; Published: 26 April 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2522118.