118 nm VUV generation using microchip laser

Passively Q-switched microchip lasers have proved to be ideal laser sources for efficient wavelength conversion. These lasers have several advantages, such as, simple construction, compact size and ease-of-use. They also provide very high peak powers that enable efficient wavelength conversion. Recently, we have used the sub-nanosecond `pulse-gap´ region of Nd:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG passively Q-switched microchip lasers to obtain very efficient second harmonic generation (SHG), and fourth harmonic generation (FHG).