Self-Q-switching behavior of a Cr³+:LiSAF laser

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of the influence of the direct coupling of the average lattice strains to the active ions on the behaviour of a Cr3 : LISAF gain switching laser. It is found that the resulting nonlinear time-dependent lensing effect combined with an internal hard aperture behaves as a saturable absorber. A resulting self-Q-switching is observed from the calculated laser pulses.