A　stable　polarized　diode　end-pumped　[100]-cut　Nd:YAG　laser,　passively　Q-switched　by　a　[001]-cut　Cr4+:YAG　saturable　absorber,　has　been　developed.　The　dependences　of　output　characteristics　in　different　directions　of　Cr4+:YAG　crystal　were　investigated.　The　experiment　demonstrated　that　in　comparison　with　conventional　[111]-cut　Nd:YAG　rod,　stable　output　with　high　polarization　extinction　ratio　was　achieved　by　using　the　[100]-cut　Nd:YAG　as　the　laser　crystal.　The　extinction　ratio　was　500:1　and　the　stability　was　96.5%.　Crown　Copyright　(C)　2014　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.