Compact 0.7 mJ/11 ns eye-safe erbium laser. (16th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vitkin, V V; Polyakov, V M; Kharitonov, A A; Buchenkov, V A; Rodionov, A Yu; Zhilin, A A; Dymshits, O S; Loiko, P A
• Is Part Of: Laser physics. Volume 26:Number 12(2016:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2016-11-16
• Subjects: erbium laser -- Q-switching -- cobalt -- spinel -- glass-ceramics -- eye-safe; Lasers -- Periodicals; 621.36605
• DOI: 10.1088/1054-660X/26/12/125801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1054-660X

Abstract

Abstract: We report on the development of a compact diode-end-pumped eye-safe (~1.54 µ m) passively-cooled Er, Yb:glass laser. The design of this laser is facilitated by the use of a double-pass pumping scheme and a special ZrO2 diffuse reflector for a uniform pump distribution. In the free-running mode, this laser generates 8.2 mJ/3 ms pulses with a slope efficiency of 15%. Passive Q-switching is provided by saturable absorbers made of transparent glass-ceramics containing Co 2+ : γ -Ga2 O3 or Co 2+ :MgAl2 O4 nanocrystals with a spinel structure. In the latter case, 0.7 mJ/10.5 ns pulses are generated corresponding to >60 kW peak power and good beam quality ( M 2 = 1.4). The designed laser is suitable for portable range-finders.