title: Efficient high repetition rate electro-optic Q-switched laser with an optically active langasite crystal.
abstract: With an optically active langasite (LGS) crystal as the electro-optic Q-switch, we demonstrate an efficient Q-switched laser with a repetition rate of 200 kHz. Based on the theoretical analysis of the interaction between optical activity and electro-optic property, the optical activity of the crystal has no influence on the birefringence during Q-switching if the quarter wave plate used was rotated to align with the polarization direction. With a Nd:LuVO4 crystal possessing a large emission cross-section and a short fluorescence lifetime as the gain medium, a stable LGS Q-switched laser was designed with average output power of 4.39 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 29.4% and with a minimum pulse width of 5.1 ns. This work represents the highest repetition rate achieved so far in a LGS Q-switched laser and it can provide a practical Q-switched laser with a tunable high repetition rates for many applications, such as materials processing, laser ranging, medicine, military applications, biomacromolecule materials, remote sensing, etc.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Shihui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Haohai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Huaijin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Xuekun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Qingming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Changqin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA.
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Boughton
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Jiyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang