Timing jitter reduction of CW-LD-pumped 1.34 µm high-repetition-rate Nd:YVO4/V:YAG laser with optimal spatial overlap rate

Abstract

In this work, we investigated the characteristics of a continuous-wave (CW) laser diode (LD) end-pumped 1.34 µm passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4/V:YAG laser experimentally and theoretically. A four-level theoretical model for 1.34 µm passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4/V:YAG laser which includes the non-radiative transition, the effective pump power, the spatial overlap effect and the thermal lens effect was demonstrated to give a transcendental equation that can accurately reflect the output characteristics of the laser. Based on the theoretical analysis, the spatial overlap rate was further optimized, we finally realized high-repetition-rate pulse output with time jitter of 180 ns at 220 kHz repetition rate and 200 ns at 357 kHz repetition rate. The good agreement between the experiment results and theoretical model provides a reference for the accurate prediction of the output characteristics of 1342 nm passively Q-switched laser.