Self-Q-switched high-power laser utilizing gadolinium scandium aluminum garnet activated with chromium and neodymium

Single-frequency Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser operating at 946-nm wavelength

“…A simpler approach would be to use a multifunctioned laser material to perform the functions that are normally done by the conventional laser cavity. An example of this multifunctioned material is the Cr and Nd codoped host crystals in which the tetravalent Cr ions behave as the saturable absorber for inducing -switching at 1064 nm [1]- [5]. The distributed saturable absorber also stabilizes the longitudinal mode through the self-induced loss granting [3], provides transverse-mode control through the aperture guiding [5], and defines the angle of polarization through the polarization-dependent saturation power [4], [6].…”