EFFECT OF DISPERSION ON THE OPERATION OF A KTP ELECTROOPTIC Q-SWITCH

The effect of dispersion on the operation of a KTP electro-optic Q swi tch was investigated. A KTP crystal in the normal orientation has been successfully operated as a Q switch. The experiment was performed wit h a laser resonator containing a Nd:YLF crystal end pumped with a cw d iode-laser array. A pulse length of approximately 100 ns was obtained at a repetition rate of 1 KHz. Temperature tuning was used to eliminat e static phase retardation. The effect of dispersion was found to affe ct Q switching. Wavelength stabilization was performed to counteract t he effect of dispersion. These measures allowed us to achieve Q switch ing action.