Simulation of tunable Cr:YSO Q-switched Cr:LiSAF laser

Abstract

In this work, we numerically investigate the passive Q-switching performance of the tunable Cr:YSO Q-switched Cr:LiSAF laser over its entire tuning range. Specifically, the optical performance of the Cr:YSO Q-switched Cr:LiSAF laser as functions of the initial population in the ground state of the Cr:YSO saturable absorber, the pumping rate, the reflectivity of the output coupler, and the dissipative loss inside the laser cavity are studied. Simulation results show that the Cr:YSO is an effective saturable absorber Q switch for the Cr:LiSAF laser over its entire tuning range. Unlike the Cr:YSO Q-switched alexandrite laser and the Cr:YSO Q-switched Cr:LiCAF laser, the Cr:YSO Q-switched Cr:LiSAF laser has similar passive Q-switching performance when the laser polarization is along each of the three principal axes of the Cr:YSO. The results obtained numerically in this work are in good agreement with those obtained experimentally by other researchers. Our simulation results indicate that, a Q-switched laser pulse with an output energy of 10 mJ and a pulse width of 17 ns may be obtained at 850 nm, the peak of its tuning spectrum.