Abstract

Various methods for Q-switch operation of solid-state lasers are employed for obtaining light pulses of nanosecond range duration. Among them active Q-switch by means of electrooptics, and passive Q-switch with the help of saturable absorbers became widespread in practice. Another passive method which recently gained attraction due to its universality is based upon SBS excited in the SBS-cell placed into the resonator cavity. In this method Q-switch is obtained due to intermode beating with a Stokes frequency giving rise to SBS onset. Such a mechanism imposes certain restrictions on the resonator cavity geometry and SBS-active medium, namely a simple resonator configuration and its reasonable length is possible if pressurized gases are used for SBS excitation.

© 1994 Optical Society of America