title: Composite, all-ceramics, high-peak power Nd:YAG/Cr(4+):YAG monolithic micro-laser with multiple-beam output for engine ignition.
abstract: A passively Q-switched Nd:YAG/Cr(4+):YAG micro-laser with three-beam output was realized. A single active laser source made of a composite, all-ceramics Nd:YAG/Cr(4+):YAG monolithic cavity was pumped by three independent lines. At 5 Hz repetition rate, each line delivered laser pulses with ~2.4 mJ energy and 2.8-MW peak power. The M(2) factor of a laser beam was 3.7, and stable air breakdowns were realized. The increase of pump repetition rate up to 100 Hz improved the laser pulse energy by 6% and required ~6% increase of the pump pulse energy. Pulse timing of the laser-array beams can by adjusted by less than 5% tuning of an individual line pump energy, and therefore simultaneous multi-point ignition is possible. This kind of laser can be used for multi-point ignition of an automobile engine.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), Laser Research Center, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan. nicolaie.pavel@inflpr.ro
authors.forename: Nicolaie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavel
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsunekane
authors.forename: Takunori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taira