Investigation on the use of semiconductor as Q-switch as well as output coupler for diode-pumped solid-state lasers

Summary form only given. Passive Q-switching has attracted much research attention in recent years, especially for diode-pumped solid-state lasers. In the previous work, we demonstrated passive Q-switching using undoped and uncoated GaAs wafers as Q-switch elements as well as output couplers for several laser systems. This kind of Q-switching has the advantages of lowering cost, shortening laser cavity, simplifying the laser operation, and improving the compactness of laser system. In this paper, we reported more detailed studies of the transmissivity and saturable absorption, and the passive Q-switching performance using several different GaAs wafers.