A generalized model for passively Q-switched lasers including excited state absorption in the saturable absorber

Author

Xiao, Guohua ; Bass, Michael

Author_Institution

Center of Res. in Opt. & Lasers, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

Volume

33

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

1/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

41

Lastpage

44

Abstract

A generalized model of a passively Q-switched laser is presented. It enables performance optimization including cases in which the saturable absorber exhibits both ground and excited state absorption (ESA) at the laser wavelength. The model accounts for the properties of the lasing material, the saturable absorber, and the resonator. The procedure for using this model to determine resonator and Q-switch parameters which optimize the laser´s performance is described and the model is applied to reported systems to demonstrate its use

Keywords

Q-switching; laser cavity resonators; laser theory; modelling; optical saturable absorption; optimisation; Q-switch parameters; excited state absorption; generalized model; ground state absorption; laser resonator; laser wavelength; lasing material; passively Q-switched lasers; performance optimization; saturable absorber; Absorption; Computer science education; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical materials; Optical resonators; Optical saturation; Physics education; Stationary state;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.554875

Filename

554875