Passively Q-switched diode-pumped Yb:YAB laser using Cr~4+ -doped garnets

摘要

We investigate the repetitive modulation in the kHz frequency domain of a passively Q-switched, diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser, by Cr~4+:YAG, Cr~4+:LuAg, and Cr~4+:GSGG saturable absorbers. The results presented here are fo- Cused towards the design of a passively Q-switched Yb:YAG microlaser. The free-running performance of both rod and A disk Yb:YAG is characterized and experimental parameters such as gain and loss are evaluated. These values, to- Gether with the value of the stimulated emission cross-section, e.g.σem=3.3×10~20 cm~2 were found to fit between our Experimental results and an existing numerical model which relates the experimental and physical parameters to the Minimal threshold pumping power. Q-switched pulses with maximum peak power of ≈10.4 kW, with energy of ≈0.5 MJ/pulse, were extracted with 30/100 extraction efficiency.