Pulse control in a Q-switched Nd:YVO4 bounce geometry laser using a secondary cavity

Area of Science:

• Laser physics
• Quantum optics
• Materials science

Background:

• Q-switched lasers are crucial for various applications.
• Controlling pulsing parameters like repetition rate and pulse energy is challenging.
• Previous methods faced limitations, such as laser breakthrough at lower frequencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and demonstrate a novel technique for enhanced control of laser pulsing parameters.
• To implement this method in a 1.1%Nd:YVO4 bounce geometry laser.
• To overcome limitations of previous Q-switching techniques.

Main Methods:

• A secondary laser cavity was employed to modulate the gain of a primary Q-switched laser cavity.
• The technique was implemented in a 1.1%Nd:YVO4 laser system.
• The system's performance was evaluated across a range of repetition rates.

Main Results:

• Clean single-pulse Q-switched operation was achieved over a broad repetition rate range (1-800 kHz).
• The previous limitation of laser breakthrough below 150 kHz was overcome.
• Precise control of pulse energy was demonstrated at a fixed repetition rate of 100 kHz.

Conclusions:

• The novel secondary cavity gain control technique significantly enhances control over laser pulsing parameters.
• This method enables stable, clean single-pulse Q-switched operation at high repetition rates.
• The technique offers improved performance for Q-switched lasers, expanding their operational capabilities.