Efficient high-energy passively Q-switched Nd:YLF/Cr4+: YAG UV laser at 351 nm with pulsed pumping in a nearly hemispherical cavity

Abstract

We originally utilize a nearly hemispherical cavity to accomplish the energy scale-up for a high-repetition-rate nanosecond pulsed pumped Nd:YLF laser passively Q-switched by the Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber. This compact laser is able to efficiently generate pulse energy as large as 1.38 mJ and pulse width as short as 5 ns under a pulse repetition rate of 100 Hz. Further employing the developed Nd: YLF laser to perform extracavity harmonic generations, the maximum pulse energies of 490 mu J at 527 nm and 360 mu J at 351 nm are achieved with the shortest pulse duration of 4 ns. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America