Diode Pumped Fiber Laser.
Abstract
Q-switching in Nd:YAG fibers was investigated as a particularly interesting technique to generate narrow pulses in miniature solid State lasers. Laboratory models of both mechanically and passively Q-switched Nd:YAG fiber lasers were developed and characterized. The devices were made of a short length of end polished fiber placed between two miniature laser mirrors and optically end-pumped with a dye laser. Mechanical Q-switching, achieved by modulating the orientation of one of the mirrors, led to the generation of pulse trains with 50 mW peak power and 70 nsec wide individual pulses. The pulse train structure was explained by the slow nature of the switching mechanism, and quantitatively predicted by a novel slow Q-switching theoretical model. Passive Q-switching was realized in practice by placing a thin film of saturable absorber in the fiber laser cavity, thereby preserving the miniature character of the device. A record pulse width of 6 nsec and peak power of 2 watts were observed in state-of-the-art, Nd:YAG waveguiding fibers, which is the first report of nonsecond pulse generation in single crystal fibers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA187694
Entities
People
- A. C. Cordova-plaza
- C. J. Gaeta
- K. A. Fesler
- M. J. Digonnet
- S. Ping
Organizations
- Stanford University