Er:Cr:YSGG laser with electrooptic PLZT ceramics Q-switching Fabry-Perot interferometer output mirror

Summary form only given. Q-switching of Er:Cr:YSGG laser with transparent PLZT ceramics electro-optic modulators was reported previously. The extremely large quadratic EO effect in PLZT allows to build small size moderate control voltages. The high induced birefringence in PLZT results from an essential contribution to polarization (and consequently to the birefringence) of processes with longer relaxation times up to seconds, corresponding to the Er:Cr:YSGG laser operating rate. PLZT ceramics have also a high value of the refractive index (n /spl ap/ 2.2-2.3 for /spl lambda/ = 3 /spl mu/m, slightly depending on PLZT composition and temperature) and thus considerable Fresnel reflections R/sub F/ = (n - 1)/sup 2//(n + 1)/sup 2/ /spl ap/ 15%. Highly reflective materials: silicium, LiNbO/sub 3/, and sapphire crystals have been used for Fabry-Perot output couplers of erbium lasers. PLZT ceramics differ from these materials. As compared with silicium, PLZT are transparent in the visible (thus allowing to use visible pilot beams for laser system adjusting procedures). As compared with LiNbO/sub 3/ and sapphire, PLZT have a higher refractive index n at 3 /spl mu/m (PLZT n /spl ap/ 2.2-2.3, LiNbO/sub 3/ - 2.16, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ - 1.7), and therefore PLZT Fabry-Perot interferometers have a higher maximum reflectance.