Investigation of mechanically Q-switched lasers

Brian Cole; Lew Goldberg; Nathaniel Hough; John E. Nettleton

doi:10.1117/12.2081256

20 February 2015 Investigation of mechanically Q-switched lasers

Brian Cole, Lew Goldberg, Nathaniel Hough, John E. Nettleton

Proceedings Volume 9342, Solid State Lasers XXIV: Technology and Devices; 93421P (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2081256
Event: SPIE LASE, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Using a resonant scanner mirror Q-switch to provide a time varying change in cavity alignment, 1535nm lasers based on Er/Yb-doped glass and 1064nm lasers based on Nd:YAG were evaluated. Using a side pumping architecture, the Er/Yb glass laser used a compact mechanical Q-switch with a mirror rotation rate of 330 Rad/s, enabling generation of <3 mJ pulses with a pulse width of 16ns. The laser output was a diffraction limited TEM00 mode. A mechanical Q-switch based on a MEMS tilting mirror was also used; its performance in a laser cavity was found to be similar to the resonant mirror. The technique of mechanical Q-switching was also extended to a side pumped Nd:YAG laser (mirror sweep rate of 1300 Rad/s), enabling generation of Q-switched pulses of <30mJ and 25ns duration. The far-field divergence showed this laser to be highly multi-moded within the pump plane, with a measured beam-product-parameter greater than 30 mm-mRad.

Citation Download Citation

Brian Cole, Lew Goldberg, Nathaniel Hough, and John E. Nettleton "Investigation of mechanically Q-switched lasers", Proc. SPIE 9342, Solid State Lasers XXIV: Technology and Devices, 93421P (20 February 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2081256

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available