Study on Ti∶Sapphire End-Pumped Nd∶YAG Ceramic Laser Passively Q-Switched by Cr4+∶YAG

介绍了近几年迅速发展的一种新型激光介质——透明Nd：YAG多晶陶瓷的发展状况，对比分析了多晶陶瓷与单晶的光谱特性、激光特性和连续实验研究情况。并对钛宝石激光器调谐至808nm，端面抽运Nd：YAG陶瓷被动调Q全固态激光器的脉冲运转进行了较为详细的理论分析和实验研究。采用初始透射率为90％的Cr^4＋：YAG可饱和吸收晶体，被动调Q的阈值功率为119mW，当端面抽运功率为465mW时，获得波长为1064nm，脉宽为16ns，重复频率为18．18kHz，单脉冲能量为3．4μJ，平均输出功率为61mW的稳定调QIn this paper a novel development of solid-state laser and optical material on the basis of highly transparent Nd∶YAG ceramics is introduced. Its absorption, luminescence spectrum, laser characters, as well as highly efficient continuous wave (CW) laser oscillation were investigated and compared with Nd∶YAG single crystals. In particular, the experimental study on Ti∶sapphire end-pumped Nd:YAG ceramic laser passively Q-switched by Cr4+∶YAG saturable absorbers was carried out. The Q-switched laser threshold is 119 mW at 1064 nm. At an incident power of 465 mW, the average output power of 61 mW is achieved. The pulse width (FWHM) is 16 ns, the repetition rate is 18.18 kHz, and a single pulse energy is 3.4 μJ. The experiment results were analyzed and discussed. With the improvement of the quality of ceramics and the optimization of laser design, highly transparent Nd∶YAG ceramic would play an important role as well as Nd∶YAG single crystals in laser industry in the near future