Abstract

Q-switching of solid state lasers is an established technology to obtain high peak powers and pulse widths in the nanosecond regime for applications like laser materials processing, time-resolved metrology or in the field of nonlinear optics. By providing a mean to change the quality (Q) of the laser cavity abruptly and repeatedly from high losses to low losses, the laser is forced to emit subsequent pulses instead of continuous radiation. In combination with diode pumping, very compact and efficient pulsed laser sources can be realized.

© 1998 IEEE