Polarization switching realized in the continuous-wave and acousto-optic Q-switched pulse Er:Yb:LaMgB5O10 lasers at 1556 and 1568 nm.

Abstract

By using the natural birefringence of crystalline quartz, the switching of a 1568 nm laser with polarization parallel to the Z optical indicatrix axis to a 1556 nm laser with polarization parallel to the Y optical indicatrix axis was observed in both continuous-wave and acousto-optic Q-switched pulse lasers based on an X-cut Er:Yb:LaMgB5O10 crystal, when the alignment of the output mirror in a 976 nm diode-end-pumped plano-concave resonator was precisely tilted. For the continuous-wave regime, a 1568 nm laser with a maximum output power of 500 mW and slope efficiency of 16%, as well as a 1556 nm laser with a maximum output power of 400 mW and slope efficiency of 13.5% were realized, respectively. For the Q-switched regime, a 1568 nm pulse laser with an energy of 144 μJ and width of 300 ns, as well as a 1556 nm pulse laser with an energy of 168 μJ and width of 270 ns, were obtained respectively by precisely tilting the alignment of the output mirror, when the absorbed pump power was 4.0 W and pulse repetition frequency was 0.5 kHz.