Shou-Huan Zhou

Monolithic self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser.

We report the operation of a diode-pumped monolithic self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser in which the codoped ions create saturable absorption for Nd(3+) laser emission at 1064 nm. With a 70-microm beam diameter in the gain medium, the Q-switched pulse has a duration of 3.5 ns and a peak power of 2 kW. The output is linearly polarized with an extinction ratio of 600:1. The pulse-to-pulse intensity fluctuation is less than the instrument resolution of 0.25%. A 5-mm-long KTP crystal butted against the monolithic cavity produces 2-ns-long pulses at 532nm with a peak power-conversion efficiency of 30%.

Self-Q-switched diode-end-pumped Cr,Nd:YAG laser with polarized output

We report self-Q-switching operation of a miniature diode-end-pumped Cr,Nd:YAG laser in which the chromium ions act as a saturable absorber for the Nd3+ laser emission at 1064 nm. The laser output is highly polarized, with an extinction ratio of 600:1. The use of laser host crystal doped with saturable absorber can lead to the development of monolithic Q-switched solid-state lasers.

Picosecond laser pulse generation in a monolithic self-Q-switched solid-state laser☆

Abstract We report the generation of laser pulses of 290-ps duration with 8-μJ pulse energy in single longitudinal mode and single transverse mode in a diode-end-pumped monolithic self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser.

Self-stabilized single-longitudinal-mode operation in a self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser

It is shown, both theoretically and experimentally, that stable single-longitudinal-mode operation, with transform-limited spectral linewidth and without pulse-to-pulse mode competition, can be obtained in a monolithic self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG solid-state laser with a distributed saturable absorber. In this system, the lasing mode establishes a loss grating and thereby stabilizes itself.

High-power monolithic unstable-resonator solid-state laser.

We report the operation of a diode-pumped monolithic Q-switched unstable-resonator solid-state laser that generates 2.15-mJ, 2-ns pulses in a single transverse mode and a single longitudinal mode. We show that the unstable resonator is effective in suppressing the spatial and the temporal instability of the laser beam in a disk-shaped laser whose transverse dimension is comparable with or larger than its longitudinal dimension.

Dynamics of transverse mode in self-Q-switched solid-state lasers

Abstract In a “gain-guided” self- Q -switched laser with a large cross section, the time required for the development of a steady-state modal profile is longer than the pulse duration, resulting in transient profiles that considerably deviate from the steady-state profile prescribed by the eigen modes of the waveguide.

Characteristics of Transverse Mode of Diode-Pumped Self-Q-Switched Microchip Laser

The development of the transverse mode in a gain-guided self-Q-switched laser is studied using a time- resolved measurement. For lasers with a large cross-sectional area, the time required for the development of the steady-state modal profile is longer than the pulse duration. This will result in transient profiles that considerably deviate from the steady-state profile prescribed by the eigen modes of the refractive index profile.

Phase locking of nanosecond pulses of passively Q-switched microchip lasers

We demonstrate that nanosecond pulses of passively Q-switched microchip lasers can be phase locked without affecting the pulse duration by coupling the lasers to a low-Q resonator.

High-power monolithic unstable-resonator solid-state laser

In searching for an appropriate resonator configuration for the disk-like high-power miniature lasers, we have conducted a study on the modal characteristic in the disk-like laser with an unstable resonator. The unstable resonator laser consists of a Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser rod whose end surfaces are polished to form a planar-convex cavity.