We propose a diode end-pumped passively mode-locked Nd：Gd0.42Y0.58VO4 （Nd：GdYVO4） laser at 1064 nm using a GaAs absorber grown at low temperature as the output coupler. Stable continuous-wave （CW） mode locking with a 5.1-ps pulse duration at a repetition rate of 113 MHz is obtained. The maximum average output power is 2.29 W at the incident pump power of 12 W with the slope efficiency of about 24.8%.
We demonstrate an efficient and eye-safe wavelength intracavity optical parametric oscillator （OPO）, based on a KTP crystal inside a Q-switched Nd：YVO4 laser end pumped by a fiber-coupled diode laser. In the acousto-optic Q-switched operation with the pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz, a 1572-nm eye-safe laser with the average power of 237 mW at the incident pump power of 5.64 W is obtained. Under the pulse repetition rate of 5 kHz, the signal light with pulse width of 2 ns and peak power of 18.5 kW is achieved. The conversion efficiency of the average power is 4.2~0 from pump diode to OPO signal output and the signal pulse duration is about 13 times shorter than that of the depleted pump light. OCIS codes： 140.3480, 140.3580, 190.4410, 190.2620.
