The electro-optic performance in free space at the 2 μ𝑚 wavelength range of potassium lithium tantalate niobate (KLTN) crystal operated at the paraelectric phase close to the phase transition temperature (Tc) is explored. An electrically induced change in the refractive index approaching 0.01 was demonstrated close to the phase transition temperature, while maintaining high optical quality and transparency at a wavelength of 1.85 μ𝑚. A special crystal geometry was employed in order to suppress unwanted acousto-optic oscillations that were superimposed on the generated pulse due the strong electrostriction of KLTN close to Tc.
Electro-optic active Q-switching in a Tm:YLF laser operating at 1.88 μm is demonstrated using a potassium lithium tantalate niobate (KLTN) crystal as the electro-optic medium. Upon approaching the ferroelectric phase transition temperature, KLTN manifests an exceptionally strong quadratic electro-optic effect. Operation with low driving voltages of 550V on a 3 mm wide and 2mm long crystal were demonstrated. Pulse energy of 1.4 mJ with 17 ns pulse duration was obtained at 1 kHz repetition rate with 9.5W incident pump power. A special trapezoidal configuration of the KLTN crystal was used in order to suppress the acousto-optic oscillations that are generated due to the strong electrostriction manifested in KLTN close to the phase transition temperature which lead to strong instabilities in the laser performance. New EO Q switching mechanism was implemented, in which the resonator gain rather than the loss was shifted between two levels by exploiting the different gain of the Tm:YLF crystal in the and polarizations. This obviated the need for inserting a polarizer in the laser cavity, and allowed the shortening of the laser cavity.
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