Passive Q switching of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser with a saturable absorber

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Optics Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.15.000440· OSTI ID:6944217

Morris, J A; Pollock, C R ^[1]

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1. School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (USA)

A diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser is passively {ital Q} switched by using F{sup {minus}}{sub 2} color centers in lithium fluoride as a saturable absorber. When cw pumped with a laser diode, the laser produces pulses of 20--30-nsec duration at 1064 nm, with an energy of as much as 20 {mu}J and a peak power of more than 1 kW. Data are presented on pulse width, energy, and repetition rate as a function of pump power. When the laser is operated at high pulse energy levels, a gradual bleaching of the saturable absorber is observed.

• OSTI ID: 6944217
• Journal Information: Optics Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Optics Letters; (USA) Vol. 15:8; ISSN 0146-9592; ISSN OPLED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
GARNETS
KILOWATT POWER RANGE
LASERS
MINERALS
NEODYMIUM LASERS
OPERATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER RANGE
POWER RANGE 01-10 KW
PULSES
Q-SWITCHING
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLID STATE LASERS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS