title: Efficient acousto-optic Q switching of Er:YSGG lasers at 2.79-microm wavelength.
abstract: A flash-lamp-pumped Er:Cr:YSGG laser at 2.79-microm wavelength has been acousto-optically Q switched. The Q-switched pulse energy and duration depend on pump pulse level and relative Q-switching time. Limits of single-pulse operation with the given acousto-optic diffraction efficiency have been determined. Resonator length, position of the Q switch, and output mirror reflectivity have been varied to obtain high pulse energy and the shortest pulse duration in the TEM00 transverse laser mode. A maximum single-pulse energy of 27 mJ and a minimum pulse duration of 120 ns were obtained with an output mirror reflectivity of approximately 25%. The highest Q-switched single-pulse energy amounted to 52% of the free-running, fundamental mode output pulse energy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Atomic Physics, Technical University of Budapest, Budafoki u. 8, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. maak@bigmac.eik.bme.hu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maak
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jakab
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu