Abstract
A compact, passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser utilizing a Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber, is end-pumped by the focused emission from an 804 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array. By changing the VCSEL operating current, we demonstrated 2x adjustability in the laser output pulse energy, from 9 mJ to 18 mJ. This energy variation was attributed to changes in the angular distribution of VCSEL emission with drive current, resulting in a change in the pump intensity distribution generated by a pump-light-focusing lens.
Highlights
Recent advances in power and brightness available from vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays [1,2] operating near 808 nm have made these sources suitable for pumping Nd:YAG solid state lasers
The laser operated at 5Hz pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs), and generated 3.7 ns to 4.6 ns Q-switched pulses over all the VCSEL array operating currents between 80 A (Pp = 235 W) and 170 A
A representative near-Gaussian far field intensity profile is shown in Fig. 2, where VCSEL array current was 130 A (Pp = 395 W)
Summary
A compact, passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser utilizing a Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber, is end-pumped by the focused emission from an 804 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array. By changing the VCSEL operating current, we demonstrated 2x adjustability in the laser output pulse energy, from 9 mJ to 18 mJ. This energy variation was attributed to changes in the angular distribution of VCSEL emission with drive current, resulting in a change in the pump intensity distribution generated by a pump-light-focusing lens.
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