Passively Q-switched diode pumped Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4 and Nd:GdVO4 using (Cr4+,Ca2+):YAG and (Cr4+,Mg2+):YAG saturable absorbers

Yehoshua Kalisky; O. Kalisky; Milan R. Kokta

doi:10.1117/12.763616

19 February 2008 Passively Q-switched diode pumped Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO₄ and Nd:GdVO₄ using (Cr⁴⁺,Ca²⁺):YAG and (Cr⁴⁺,Mg²⁺):YAG saturable absorbers

Yehoshua Kalisky, O. Kalisky, Milan R. Kokta

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6875, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications VII; 687511 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.763616
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2008, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

We report the operation of passively Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 lasers by employing Cr⁴⁺-doped garnets with Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ as charge compensators. We found that the laser performance improved significantly, mainly in the Nd:YVO₄ system when (Cr⁴⁺,Mg²⁺):YAG sample was used as a passive Q-switching. For example, in the Nd:YVO₄ and Nd:YAG lasers, the maximum peak power using (Cr⁴⁺,Mg²⁺):YAG saturable absorber was higher by a factor of 8.5 and 2.6, respectively, relative to (Cr⁴⁺,Ca²⁺):YAG. This fact is attributed to better optical quality of the (Cr⁴⁺,Mg²⁺):YAG sample, as a result of improved dopant distribution and reduced internal stresses inside the saturable absorber crystals. Similar passively Q-switched laser performance can be obtained by using other garnets with an open structure, and hence, with low internal stresses, such as (Cr ⁴⁺,Ca²⁺):GGG. We also compared the laser performance of Nd:GdVO₄ with the same saturable absorbers and obtained both passive Q-switching and passive mode locking. By using an analytical model with the relevant physical parameters of the laser crystals and saturable absorbers it is possible to optimize the laser performance.

Citation Download Citation

Yehoshua Kalisky, O. Kalisky, and Milan R. Kokta "Passively Q-switched diode pumped Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO₄ and Nd:GdVO₄ using (Cr⁴⁺,Ca²⁺):YAG and (Cr⁴⁺,Mg²⁺):YAG saturable absorbers", Proc. SPIE 6875, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications VII, 687511 (19 February 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.763616

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