High Peak Power, Passively Q-Switched Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG Micro-Lasers

A high peak power (>MW), passively Q-switched Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG micro-laser end-pumped by fiber-coupled 120-W QCW LDs (Repetition rate <; 100 Hz) is developed. The convex output coupler with a curvature of -2 m successfully enlarges the fundamental mode size in the micro-laser cavity, and the output pulse energy increases to 3.6 mJ at a Cr:YAG initial transmission of 89% without optical damage. The TEM₀₀ transverse mode and the single-frequency oscillation are confirmed. The pulse duration is 1.3 ns, and then the peak power is estimated as 2.8 MW. To our knowledge, these are the highest pulse energy and peak power ever reported in Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG micro-lasers. The Yb:YAG rod with 5 at.% Yb concentration and 4.2-mm thickness keeps more than 80% single-pass pump absorption ranging from 15°C to 45 °C in LD temperature. On the other hand, the characteristic temperatures of Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG and Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG lasers were estimated as 110 and 278 K, respectively. This means that the ratio of the increase in threshold pump energy to temperature of a Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG laser is twice or higher than that of a Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG laser due to a quasi-3-level system of Yb:YAG.