Abstract
We constructed a polarization-switchable microchip laser from a cw 1.064-μm Nd:YAG microchip laser1 a piece of LiTaO3, and a discrete, flat, partially reflecting mirror, as shown in Fig. 1. The cw microchip laser consisted of a 650-μm-long piece of 1.3-wt.% Nd:YAG with two flat mirrors (a pump mirror and a partially reflecting output mirror). The discrete partially reflecting mirror was mounted on the LiTaO3 and held parallel to the mirrors of the cw microchip laser, with the LiTaO3 toward the cw device. Electrical contacts were deposited on the LiTaO3 to allow electro-optic control of its optical length. The partially reflecting output mirror of the cw microchip laser, the LiTaO3, and the discrete partially reflecting mirror formed a birefringent tunable étalon. The two orthogonal polarizations of the étalon see a low-Q cavity at different times across its free spectral range. As a result, application of the proper voltages to the LiTaO3 allowed switching of the laser between the two polarizations.
© 1991 Optical Society of America
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