Scaling output energy in a diode-end-pumped passively Q-switched laser with a flat-flat resonator

Abstract

The spatial and temporal behaviors in a diode-end-pumped passively Q-switched laser with a flat-flat resonator are systematically explored as a function of the cavity length. A Nd:YAG/Cr4+:YAG miniature laser is experimentally used to show that the scale-up of the pulse energy without the higher-order transverse modes can be practically realized by optimizing the cavity length as a function of the pump size. A theoretical analysis is performed to confirm the experimental results. The extracavity second harmonic generation is experimentally conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of the laser design. PACS number(s): 42.60. Gd Q-switching; 42.55. Xi Diode-pumped lasers; 42.55.-f Lasers; 42.65.Sf Dynamics of nonlinear optical systems; optical instabilities, optical chaos and complexity, and optical spatiotemporal dynamics.