Efficient triwavelength laser with a Nd:YGG garnet crystal

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Solid-State Lasers
• Materials Science

Background:

• Neodymium-doped yttrium gallium garnet (Nd:YGG) is a promising material for solid-state lasers.
• Efficient laser-diode pumping is crucial for compact and high-power laser systems.
• Triwavelength laser operation can enable advanced applications in spectroscopy and nonlinear optics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate, for the first time, a laser-diode-pumped triwavelength laser utilizing a Nd:YGG crystal.
• To investigate the continuous wave (CW) and passively Q-switched performance of this novel laser system.
• To characterize the output power, efficiency, spectral properties, and pulsed laser parameters.

Main Methods:

• Laser-diode pumping of a Nd:YGG crystal.
• Optimization of cavity parameters for triwavelength oscillation.
• Employing a chromium-doped YAG (Cr:YAG) crystal as a saturable absorber for passive Q-switching.
• Spectroscopic analysis to identify laser transitions and wavelengths.

Main Results:

• Achieved a CW output power of 7.15W with a slope efficiency of 52.7% under 14.1W absorbed pump power.
• Demonstrated passive Q-switching with a shortest pulse width of 3.1ns, largest pulse energy of 153.8 microJ, and highest peak power of 46.6kW.
• Observed and assigned three distinct laser transitions at wavelengths of 1062.1nm, 1060.3nm, and 1058.9nm.

Conclusions:

• Successfully developed the first laser-diode-pumped triwavelength laser based on Nd:YGG.
• The system exhibits high efficiency in CW operation and effective Q-switching capabilities.
• The demonstrated triwavelength operation opens avenues for multi-wavelength laser applications.