Cost-effective low timing jitter passively Q-switched diode-pumped solid-state laser with composite pumping pulses

A novel scheme that combines gain switching with passive Q switching of a miniature diode-pumped solid-state laser is proposed and implemented. A composite pumping pulse, consisting of a long, low-intensity pulse and a following short, high-intensity pulse, is used to reduce the timing jitter. A greater-than-tenfold reduction in timing jitter is demonstrated.