New formalism for the analysis of passively Q-switched laser systems

Author

Patel, Falgun D. ; Beach, Raymond J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Appl. Sci., Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., CA, USA

Volume

37

Issue

5

fYear

2001

fDate

5/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

707

Lastpage

715

Abstract

We present a new formalism for the analysis of passively Q-switched laser systems that facilitates the performance of sensitivity studies and system optimizations. The developed formalism is general enough to include the impact of an ESA process in the saturable absorber Q-switch and, therefore, is applicable to Cr⁴⁺:YAG passively Q-switched systems. To illustrate the use of the developed formalism, we have applied it to a comparative analysis of two laser systems based on Nd:YAG and Yb:YAG

Keywords

Q-switching; chromium; laser accessories; laser beams; laser theory; neodymium; optical materials; optical pumping; optical saturable absorption; optimisation; sensitivity; solid lasers; ytterbium; Cr⁴⁺:YAG passively Q-switched systems; Nd:YAG; Q-switched laser systems; YAG:Cr; YAG:Nd; YAG:Yb; YAl5O12:Cr; YAl5O12:Nd; YAl5O12:Yb; Yb:YAG; comparative analysis; excited-state absorption; formalism; laser systems; passively Q-switched laser systems; performance; saturable absorber Q-switch; sensitivity; system optimizations; Chromium; Equations; Lagrangian functions; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser theory; Neodymium; Performance analysis; Pump lasers; Solid lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.918585

Filename

918585