Dynamics of passively Q-switched microchip lasers

Citation
P. Peterson et al., Dynamics of passively Q-switched microchip lasers, IEEE J Q EL, 35(8), 1999, pp. 1247-1256
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science","Eletrical & Eletronics Engineeing
Journal title
IEEE JOURNAL OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
ISSN journal
00189197 → ACNP
Volume
35
Issue
8
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1247 - 1256
Database
ISI
SICI code
0018-9197(199908)35:8<1247:DOPQML>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Self-pulsing in passively Q-switched microchip lasers is investigated in de tail. The typical range of values of the parameters motivates a new analysi s of the laser rate equations. We determine basic properties of the laser i ntensity oscillations such as threshold conditions, repetition rate, pulsew idth, peak power, and pulse energy. We show that these oscillations appear through a quasi-vertical Hopf bifurcation located slightly above the lasing threshold. Our bifurcation results are verified numerically by modeling a microchip laser experiment with Nd:YAG as the gain medium and Cr:YAG as sat urable absorber. Our results agree with the experiment to within 10%.