>1 MW peak power single-mode high-brightness
			   passively Q-switched Nd<sup>3+</sup>:YAG microchip laser

doi:10.1364/OE.16.019891

>1 MW peak power single-mode high-brightness passively Q-switched Nd³⁺:YAG microchip laser

Hiroshi Sakai, Hirohumi Kan, and Takunori Taira »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 24, pp. 19891-19899 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.019891

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Abstract

A high-brightness diode end-pumped Nd:YAG microchip laser, passively Q-switched by a Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber (SA), has been developed. The dependences of pulse energy and width were investigated based on theoretical verification to enhance the peak power. As a result, the peak power exceeded 1.2 MW with M² =1.04 and spectrum width Δλ<5.1 pm at a repetition rate of 100 Hz. Brightness of 98 TW/sr·cm² was obtained with a supplied average electrical power of 2.3 W. The peak power increased up to 2.1 MW with M² =1.36. Peak power of 1.7 MW was obtained from a 2-cm-diameter×5-cm-long monolithic laser head.

OCIS Codes
(140.3480) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, diode-pumped
(140.3530) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, neodymium
(140.3540) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, Q-switched
(140.3570) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, single-mode

ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics

History
Original Manuscript: August 29, 2008
Revised Manuscript: November 9, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: November 11, 2008
Published: November 18, 2008

Citation
Hiroshi Sakai, Hirohumi Kan, and Takunori Taira, ">1 MW peak power single-mode high-brightness passively Q-switched Nd³⁺:YAG microchip laser," Opt. Express 16, 19891-19899 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-24-19891

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References

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, V. Lupei, G. Philipps, T. Beck, and H. Weber, "Investigation of a passive Q-switched, externally controlled, quasicontinuous or continuous pumped Nd:YAG laser," Opt. Eng. 35,1247-1251 (1996). [CrossRef]
J. J. Zayhowski and C. DillIII, "Diode-pumped passively Q-switched picosecond microchip lasers," Opt. Lett. 19, 1427-1429 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Taira and T. Kobayashi, "Q-switched and frequency doubling of solid-state lasers by a single intracavity KTP crystal," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 30, 800-804 (1994). [CrossRef]
J. J. Zayhowski, C. DillIII, C. Cook, and J. L. Daneu, "Mid-and high-power passively Q-switched microchip lasers," in Proceeding of Advanced Solid-State Lasers, M. M. Fejer, H. Injeyan, and U. Keller, eds., Vol. 26 of OSA Trends in Optics and Photonic Series (Optical Society of America, Washington, D. C., 1999), pp. 178-186.
A. V. Podlipensky, K. V. Yumashev, N. V. Kuleshov, H. M. Kretschmann, and G. Huber, "Passive Q-switching of 1.44 µm and 1.34 µm diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers with a V:YAG saturable absorber," Appl. Phys. B 76, 245-247 (2003). [CrossRef]
J. E. Hellstrom, G. Karlsson, V. Pasiskevicius, F. Laurell, B. Denker, S. Sverchkov, B. Galagan, and L. Ivleva, "Passive Q-switching at 1.54 μm of an Er-Yb:GdCa4O(BO3)3 laser with a Co2+:MgAl2O4 saturable absorber," Appl. Phys. B 81, 49-52 (2005). [CrossRef]
I. Frietag, A. Tunnermann, and H. Wekking, "Passively Q-switched Nd:YAG ring lasers with high average output power in single-frequency operation," Opt. Lett. 22, 706-708 (1997). [CrossRef]
Y. Kalisky, C. Labbe, K. Waichman, L. Kravchik, U. Rachum, P. Deng, J. Xu, J. Dong, and W. Chen, "Passively Q-switched diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser using Cr4+-doped garnets," Opt. Mater. 19, 403-413 (2002). [CrossRef]
D. Y. Shen, S. C. Tan, Y. L. Lan, and T. Kobayashi, "Diode-pumped passively Q-switched single-frequency Nd:YAG lasers," Opt. Rev. 7, 451-454 (2000). [CrossRef]
H. Sakai, A. Sone, H. Kan, and T. Taira, "Diode-pumped passively Q-switched high-brightness microchip lasers," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Pacific Rim 2005, (Optical Society of America, 2005), paper CThI2_2. [CrossRef]
T. Taira, Y. Matsuoka, H. Sakai, A. Sone, and H. Kan, "Passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip laser over 1-MW peak output power for micro drilling," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2006), paper CWF6. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO-2006-CWF6 [PubMed]
H. Sakai, A. Sone, H. Kan, and T. Taira, " Polarization stabilizing for diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip lasers," in Advanced Solid-State Photonics, Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, 2006), paper MD2. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ASSP-2006-MD2
S. Hayashi, T. Shibuya, H. Sakai, H. Kan, T. Taira, Y. Ogawa, C. Otani, and K. Kawase, "Tunable terahertz-wave parametric generation pumped by microchip Nd:YAG laser," in Advanced Solid-State Photonics, OSA Technical Digest Series (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper MC30. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ASSP-2008-MC30
T. Taira, "High power, tunable microchip lasers," in CLEO/Europe and IQEC 2007 Conference Digest, (Optical Society of America, 2007), paper CA3_3, Invited. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO_E-2007-CA3_3
A. Szabo and R. A. Stein, "Theory of Laser Giant Pulsing by a Saturable Absorber," J. Appl. Phys. 36, 1562-1566 (1965). [CrossRef]
J. J. Degnan, "Optimization of Passively Q-Switched Lasers," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 31, 1890-1901 (1995). [CrossRef]
N. Pavel, J. Saikawa, S. Kurimura, and T. Taira, "High average power diode end-pumped composite Nd:YAG laser passively Q-switched by Cr:YAG saturrable absorber," Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 40, 1253-1259 (2001). [CrossRef]
J. J. Degnan, "Theory of the optimally coupled Q-switched laser," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 25, 214-220 (1989). [CrossRef]

Beck, T.
Chen, W.
Dascalu, T.
Degnan, J. J.
Deng, P.
Denker, B.
Dill, C.
Dong, J.
Frietag, I.
Galagan, B.
Hellstrom, J. E.
Huber, G.
Ivleva, L.
Kalisky, Y.
Karlsson, G.
Kobayashi, T.
Kravchik, L.
Kretschmann, H. M.
Kuleshov, N. V.
Kurimura, S.
Labbe, C.
Lan, Y. L.
Laurell, F.
Lupei, V.
Pasiskevicius, V.
Pavel, N.
Philipps, G.
Podlipensky, A. V.
Rachum, U.
Saikawa, J.
Shen, D. Y.
Stein, R. A.
Sverchkov, S.
Szabo, A.
Taira, T.
Tan, S. C.
Tunnermann, A.
Waichman, K.
Weber, H.
Wekking, H.
Xu, J.
Yumashev, K. V.
Zayhowski, J. J.

Appl. Phys. B

A. V. Podlipensky, K. V. Yumashev, N. V. Kuleshov, H. M. Kretschmann, and G. Huber, "Passive Q-switching of 1.44 µm and 1.34 µm diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers with a V:YAG saturable absorber," Appl. Phys. B 76, 245-247 (2003). [CrossRef]
J. E. Hellstrom, G. Karlsson, V. Pasiskevicius, F. Laurell, B. Denker, S. Sverchkov, B. Galagan, and L. Ivleva, "Passive Q-switching at 1.54 μm of an Er-Yb:GdCa4O(BO3)3 laser with a Co2+:MgAl2O4 saturable absorber," Appl. Phys. B 81, 49-52 (2005). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

T. Taira and T. Kobayashi, "Q-switched and frequency doubling of solid-state lasers by a single intracavity KTP crystal," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 30, 800-804 (1994). [CrossRef]
J. J. Degnan, "Optimization of Passively Q-Switched Lasers," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 31, 1890-1901 (1995). [CrossRef]
J. J. Degnan, "Theory of the optimally coupled Q-switched laser," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 25, 214-220 (1989). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

A. Szabo and R. A. Stein, "Theory of Laser Giant Pulsing by a Saturable Absorber," J. Appl. Phys. 36, 1562-1566 (1965). [CrossRef]

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.

N. Pavel, J. Saikawa, S. Kurimura, and T. Taira, "High average power diode end-pumped composite Nd:YAG laser passively Q-switched by Cr:YAG saturrable absorber," Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 40, 1253-1259 (2001). [CrossRef]

Opt. Eng.

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, V. Lupei, G. Philipps, T. Beck, and H. Weber, "Investigation of a passive Q-switched, externally controlled, quasicontinuous or continuous pumped Nd:YAG laser," Opt. Eng. 35,1247-1251 (1996). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

Opt. Mater.

Y. Kalisky, C. Labbe, K. Waichman, L. Kravchik, U. Rachum, P. Deng, J. Xu, J. Dong, and W. Chen, "Passively Q-switched diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser using Cr4+-doped garnets," Opt. Mater. 19, 403-413 (2002). [CrossRef]

Opt. Rev.

D. Y. Shen, S. C. Tan, Y. L. Lan, and T. Kobayashi, "Diode-pumped passively Q-switched single-frequency Nd:YAG lasers," Opt. Rev. 7, 451-454 (2000). [CrossRef]

Other

H. Sakai, A. Sone, H. Kan, and T. Taira, "Diode-pumped passively Q-switched high-brightness microchip lasers," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Pacific Rim 2005, (Optical Society of America, 2005), paper CThI2_2. [CrossRef]
T. Taira, Y. Matsuoka, H. Sakai, A. Sone, and H. Kan, "Passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip laser over 1-MW peak output power for micro drilling," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2006), paper CWF6. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO-2006-CWF6 [PubMed]
H. Sakai, A. Sone, H. Kan, and T. Taira, " Polarization stabilizing for diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip lasers," in Advanced Solid-State Photonics, Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, 2006), paper MD2. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ASSP-2006-MD2
S. Hayashi, T. Shibuya, H. Sakai, H. Kan, T. Taira, Y. Ogawa, C. Otani, and K. Kawase, "Tunable terahertz-wave parametric generation pumped by microchip Nd:YAG laser," in Advanced Solid-State Photonics, OSA Technical Digest Series (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper MC30. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ASSP-2008-MC30
T. Taira, "High power, tunable microchip lasers," in CLEO/Europe and IQEC 2007 Conference Digest, (Optical Society of America, 2007), paper CA3_3, Invited. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO_E-2007-CA3_3
J. J. Zayhowski, C. DillIII, C. Cook, and J. L. Daneu, "Mid-and high-power passively Q-switched microchip lasers," in Proceeding of Advanced Solid-State Lasers, M. M. Fejer, H. Injeyan, and U. Keller, eds., Vol. 26 of OSA Trends in Optics and Photonic Series (Optical Society of America, Washington, D. C., 1999), pp. 178-186.

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