Abstract

We demonstrate the use of Q-switched microchip [1] MOPA (master-oscillator power-amplifier) systems for generation of sub-100 ps pulses at 532 nm and sub-250 ps pulses at 671 nm. Such short pulses at the visible spectrum could be used for example in fluorescence lifetime measurements, 2-photon microscopy, etc. If compared with mode-locked lasers, Q-switched microchip lasers have intrinsically low repetition rate (here ~30–500 kHz), which allows amplification to high pulse energies without need of a pulse picker or regenerative amplifier. Other advantages of the concept include compact footprint and monolithic design of the master oscillator.

© 2017 IEEE