Multiwatt continuous-wave adaptive laser resonator

We present, for what we believe is the first time, results of continuous-wave diode-pumping of a $\mathrm{Nd}:{\mathrm{YVO}}_4$ laser with an adaptive gain-grating resonator. The system is shown to produce more than a 7-W output in a ${\mathrm{TEM}}_{00}$ single longitudinal mode with a laser beam propagation parameter $M^2$ of $<1.3$ and $<1.1$ in the $x$ and $y$ axes, respectively. We demonstrate the self-adaptive abilities of the resonator by spatial correction of an intracavity aberrator for both injected and self-starting versions of the cavity.