Tuning laser output characteristics of a pyrotechnically pumped free-running Nd:YAG laser in terms of pumping kinetics

摘要

Using light radiation directly produced by combustion of some pyrotechnics as pumping sources of solid state lasers is a potentially effective way to obtain compact and high energy lasers. Kinetics of this kind of pumping is studied in terms of pulse energy and pulse time characteristics as well as laser output energy. Pumping kinetics is turned through changing fabrication methods of the pumping modules. It was found that the useful light energy and pulse time for the pyrotechnic pumping light showed opposite changing trend. Compressing pulse duration from 45 ms to about 10 ms would simultaneously cause 20%～ 50% decreases in useful light radiation energy. However, the laser output energy produced by these pumping sources only had a variation 9%, ranging from 427 mJ to 468 mJ. Reasons were related to the decrease in fluorescence loss in pumping energy below the threshold for the pyrotechnic modules having shorter pulse duration but higher radiation power.