Duty cycle ratio dependence on the performance of a Q-switched laser with an Er^3+–Yb^3+ codoped glass waveguide

Abstract

We examine the performance of a hybrid Q-switched LiNbO(3) and Er(3+)-Yb(3+) doped glass waveguide laser as a modulation function of the duty cycle ratio. As the duty cycle ratio decreases, the laser operates at higher peak power and pulse width. At low duty cycle ratio (<1%), we observe variations in the Q-switched pulse shape; while the laser produces 59-W and 200-ns pulses to a 1-kHz repetition rate for a 50% duty cycle, it yields 27-W and 100-ns pulses to a 10-kHz repetition rate for a 0.01% duty cycle.