Co(2+):LaMgAl(11)O(19) saturable absorber Q-switch for a flash lamp pumped 1.54 mum Er:glass laser

By using a new saturable absorber, Co(2+):LaMgAl(11)O(19) (Co:LMA) crystal, the passive Q-switched operation of a flash lamp pumped 1.54 mum Er:glass laser is realized. With different transmissions of the output mirror, the properties of static output and dynamic output of the laser are studied. The experimental results show that, when transmission of the output coupler is 15%, the static output curve has higher slope efficiency and higher energy conversion efficiency and meanwhile the Q-switched output pulses with higher single-pulse energy and narrower pulse width can be obtained.