Passive Q-switching of high-power solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser

Idit L. Pe'er; Nir Naftali; Dov Abramovic; Amnon Yogev; M. Lando; Y. Shimony

doi:10.1117/12.270236

4 April 1997 Passive Q-switching of high-power solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser

Idit L. Pe'er, Nir Naftali, Dov Abramovic, Amnon Yogev, M. Lando, Y. Shimony

Proceedings Volume 3092, XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.270236
Event: XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High Power Laser Conference, 1996, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

High power lasers operating at high repetition rates at the kilohertz regime are attractive for a variety of applications. Such high repetition rates can be achieved by Q-switching a cw laser using either an acousto-optic, an electro-optic or a passive Q-switch. Since passive Q-switching needs no external electric circuit, it may be valuable for solar pumped lasers to be used at space. In recent years, Cr⁴⁺:YAG has been extensively used for passive Q-switching of flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG lasers. For high average power lasers, the excellent thermal characteristics of Cr⁴⁺:YAG give it an edge over other saturable absorbers. In the present paper we report on the first passive Q-switching of solar pumped high power Nd:YAG laser. This solar pumped Nd:YAG laser, which employed 3 and 4 mm diameter Nd:YAG rods, emitted up to 50 watts in the cw mode. The laser rod was side-pumped by solar irradiation using a three-stage concentrating system. The Cr⁴⁺:YAG device rear surface was coated by high reflection dielectric coating, serving as cavity rear mirror, while the output mirror had a reflectivity of 90%. An average output power of 9 watts was obtained from the passive Q-switched solar pumped laser at 15 - 40 kHz, twice previous results for a passive Q- switched Nd:YAG laser, results which have been obtained under continuous flashlamp pumping.

Citation Download Citation

Idit L. Pe'er, Nir Naftali, Dov Abramovic, Amnon Yogev, M. Lando, and Y. Shimony "Passive Q-switching of high-power solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser", Proc. SPIE 3092, XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference, (4 April 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.270236

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