Diode-pumped actively Q-switching and mode-locking Nd:GdVO₄laser

Abstract

A diode-pumped actively Q-switched and modelocked Nd:GdVO4 laser with great average output power and high efficiency was realized by using a comparative simple configuration and a short cavity length. The laser generates stable mode-locked pulses of estimated width 240 ps lying underneath a Q-switched envelope of width 170 ns with a Q-switch modulation frequency of 10 kHz. The modulation depth was more than 90% and the mode-locked pulse inside the Q-switched pulse has a repetition rate of 390 MHz.

Compact and efficient Kerr-lens mode-locked diode-pumped actively Q-switched YVO4–Nd:YVO4 laser

“…In Ref. [4], the maximum average output power was only 1.5 W at 30 kHz, corresponding to the conversion efficiency of 24%. According to the average output power and the repetition rate, the pulse energy of the Q-switched pulse versus the incident power was experimentally shown in Fig.…”

“…This device being active in nature can provide the stability in QML pulses, the repetition rate of which is fixed by an external modulating signal source. The stability nonlinear mirror mode-locked Nd:YVO 4 oscillator by AOQS has been demonstrated in Ref. [2].…”

“…The Q-switching phenomenon has been experimentally observed in both passively, actively and self-mode-locked lasers [1][2][3][4]. The physical manifestation of Q-switching can be a beneficial or deleterious effect, which depends on the specific application.…”

“…Very recently, an actively Q-switching and mode-locking Nd: GdVO 4 laser has been demonstrated in Ref. [4]. However, the modulation depth of the Q-switched mode-locked pulses could not reach 100%, and the cavity design was complicated.…”

Passively Q-switched mode-locking in a diode-pumped c-cut Nd:LuVO4laser with Cr4+:YAG

“…[1][2][3][4]. For high peak power applications, passively Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) lasers are more desirable than actively ones because of their compactness and simplicity.…”