Title :
Efficient Quasi-Three-Level Laser Operation of Nd:Gd:LuAG Crystal and Blue Light Generation
Author :
Shidong Zhuang ; Shuo Han ; Zhengping Wang ; Dawei Hu ; Xiaodong Xu ; Haohai Yu ; Jun Xu ; Xinguang Xu
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Sci., Shandong Jianzhu Univ., Jinan, China
Abstract :
The quasi-three-level laser operation of Nd:Gd:LuAG crystal is reported for the first time. The maximum continuous-wave (CW) output power of over more than 3 W was obtained with an optical conversion efficiency of 40.0% and a slope efficiency of 55.5%. With Cr:YAG as the saturable absorber, the passively Q-switched laser was achieved with the maximum average output power, shortest pulse width and pulse energy of 820 mW, 21.3 ns, and 124 μJ, respectively. By using a type-II cut LBO crystal as the intracavity frequency doubler, the maximum output power of 802 mW for CW operation and 331 mW for passively Q-switched operation were achieved at the wavelength of 474 nm.
Keywords :
Q-switching; gadolinium; laser cavity resonators; lithium compounds; lutetium compounds; neodymium; optical harmonic generation; optical pulse generation; optical saturable absorption; solid lasers; LuAG:Nd,Gd; Nd:Gd:LuAG crystal; YAG:Cr; blue light generation; continuous-wave output power; efficiency 40 percent; efficiency 55.5 percent; energy 124 muJ; intracavity frequency doubler; optical conversion efficiency; passive Q-switching; power 331 mW; power 802 mW; pulse energy; pulse width; quasithree-level laser operation; saturable absorber; slope efficiency; time 21.3 ns; wavelength 474 nm; Crystals; Laser excitation; Laser theory; Measurement by laser beam; Mirrors; Power generation; Pump lasers; Diode-pumped lasers; nonlinear optical conversion; quasi-three-level laser;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2012.2230161
