Configuration Q-switching in a diode-pumped multirod variable-configuration resonator

Author

MacDonald, Michael P. ; Graf, Thomas ; Balmer, Jürg E. ; Weber, Heinz P.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Appl. Phys., Bern Univ., Switzerland

Volume

34

Issue

2

fYear

1998

fDate

2/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

366

Lastpage

371

Abstract

We report on a novel technique for Q-switching at high repetition rates, where the change in the Q of the cavity is due to the capability of a variable-configuration multirod resonator (VCR) to switch between an unstable Fabry-Perot configuration and a stable ring configuration. The switching between the configurations is accomplished simply by the means of a Pockels cell. Using the new Q-switching technique, 35-ns-long pulses with a peak power of 17 kW at a repetition rate of 4 kHz, giving an average power of 2.4 W, were obtained

Keywords

Fabry-Perot resonators; Pockels effect; Q-switching; electro-optical modulation; laser cavity resonators; optical pumping; ring lasers; solid lasers; 17 kW; 2.4 W; 35 ns; 4 kHz; Pockels cell; VCR; average power; cavity; configuration Q-switching; diode-pumped multirod variable-configuration resonator; high repetition rates; peak power; stable ring configuration; unstable Fabry-Perot configuration; Crystals; Diodes; Laser excitation; Laser stability; Optical polarization; Optical retarders; Pump lasers; Ring lasers; Switches; Video recording;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.658736

Filename

658736