Q-switched pulse laser generation from double-cladding Nd:YAG ceramics waveguides

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers are crucial for various applications.
• Developing efficient and compact pulsed laser sources remains an active research area.
• Ceramic waveguides offer advantages in laser performance and scalability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the generation of Q-switched pulsed laser emission from double-cladding Nd:YAG ceramic waveguides.
• To explore the impact of waveguide design on laser performance.
• To achieve stable pulsed laser output with specific temporal and energy characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of double-cladding Nd:YAG ceramic waveguides with varying diameters.
• Inscribing waveguides into Nd:YAG ceramic samples.
• Utilizing a semiconductor saturable absorber for Q-switching.
• Characterizing laser output parameters including wavelength, pulse duration, pulse energy, and repetition rate.

Main Results:

• Stable Q-switched pulsed laser emission was successfully achieved at a wavelength of 1064 nm.
• The generated pulses exhibited a temporal duration of 21 nanoseconds.
• The laser produced a pulse energy of approximately 14 microjoules.
• A repetition rate of 3.65 MHz was maintained for stable operation.

Conclusions:

• Double-cladding Nd:YAG ceramic waveguides are effective for Q-switched pulsed laser generation.
• The demonstrated laser system offers a promising platform for compact and efficient pulsed laser sources.
• Further optimization of waveguide parameters could lead to enhanced laser performance.