2 MHz AO $Q$ -switched ${\rm TEM}_{00}$ Grazing Incidence Laser With 3 at.% Neodymium Doped Nd:YV

We present a detailed experimental and theoretical study of the ultrahigh repetition rate AO Q -switched TEM₀₀ grazing incidence laser. Up to 2.1 MHz Q-switching with TEM₀₀ output of 8.6 W and 2.2 MHz Q -switching with multimode output of 10 W were achieved by using an acousto-optics Q -switched grazing-incidence laser with optimum grazing-incidence angle and cavity configuration. The crystal was 3 at.% neodymium doped Nd:YVO₄ slab. The pulse duration at 2 MHz repetition rate was about 31 ns. The instabilities of pulse energy at 2 MHz repetition rate were less than plusmn6.7% with TEM₀₀ operation and plusmn3.3% with multimode operation respectively. The modeling of high repetition rate Q-switched operation is presented based on the rate equation, and with the solution of the modeling, higher pump power, smaller section area of laser mode, and larger stimulated emission cross section of the gain medium are beneficial to the Q-switched operation with ultrahigh repetition rate, which is in consistent with the experimental results.