The eye-safe Q-switched Er:YAG laser

W. Zendzian; J. Jabczynski; L. Galecki; L. Gorajek; J. Kwiatkowski; H. Jelinkowa; M. Nemec; J. Šulc

doi:10.1117/12.853700

17 May 2010 The eye-safe Q-switched Er:YAG laser

W. Zendzian, J. Jabczynski, L. Galecki, L. Gorajek, J. Kwiatkowski, H. Jelinkowa, M. Nemec, J. Šulc

Proceedings Volume 7721, Solid State Lasers and Amplifiers IV, and High-Power Lasers; 772114 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.853700
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2010, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

The study describes the efficient, acousto-optic Q-switching of the Er:YAG laser at the 1645 nm 'eye-safe' wavelength. For longitudinal pumping at the wavelength of 1532 nm, a linearly-polarized 10 W erbium fiber laser radiation was used. The investigated Er:YAG crystal was 40 mm long and its erbium concentration was 0.25 %. The active crystal was mounted in a copper heat-sink maintaining a 15°C temperature of coolant water. For giant pulse generation, the fused-silica acousto-optic modulator was inserted inside the Er:YAG laser oscillator near the output mirror of the resonator. Laser output characteristics were performed depending on the parameters of output coupler reflectance (R= 95%, 90%, 85%) and the repetition rate (from 0.1 to 10 kHz). In free running experiments almost 2.8 W of output power with 55% slope efficiency with respect to incident pump power was obtained. In Q-switching regime the high peak power generation was demonstrated. For maximum incident pump power of 7.8 W, pulse energy up to 4 mJ was generated with a pulse duration less than 40 ns at a 500-Hz repetition rate, which corresponds to nearly 110 kW of peak power. This laser source can find application as a transmitter in 'eye-safe' rangefinders, ladars etc.

Citation Download Citation

W. Zendzian, J. Jabczynski, L. Galecki, L. Gorajek, J. Kwiatkowski, H. Jelinkowa, M. Nemec, and J. Šulc "The eye-safe Q-switched Er:YAG laser", Proc. SPIE 7721, Solid State Lasers and Amplifiers IV, and High-Power Lasers, 772114 (17 May 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.853700

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available