Advances in All-Solid-State Passively Q-Switched Lasers Based on Cr4+:YAG Saturable Absorber

Abstract

All-solid-state passively Q-switched lasers have advantages that include simple structure, high peak power, and short sub-nanosecond pulse width. Potentially, these lasers can be applied in multiple settings, such as in miniature light sources, laser medical treatment, remote sensing, and precision processing. Cr4+:YAG crystal is an ideal Q-switch material for all-solid-state passively Q-switched lasers owing to its high thermal conductivity, low saturation light intensity, and high damage threshold. This study summarizes the research progress on all-solid-state passively Q-switched lasers that use Cr4+:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber and discusses further prospects for the development and application of such lasers.

Study of Active Medium Length Effect on Characteristics of Passive QSwitching and Stokes with Anti-Stokes Pulse

“…Crystalbased Cr +4 : YAG has been widely employed in passive Q-switching techniques, https://www.indjst.org/ although they share all of the limitations of single crystal technology, such as long manufacturing times, poor compatibility for large and composite structures, and so on (5) . Cr 4+ :YAG crystal has a wide absorption band at 0.9-1.2µm when compared with other SA (3) . The energy level diagram of Cr +4 :YAG shown in Figure 1 (6) .…”

“…The pulses generated from Q-switching are typically produced at low repetition rates in the kHz range (1,2) . Organic dyes, doped crystals, and semiconductors are common materials used in passive Q-switches (PQS) (3) . PQS is the method using a saturable absorber (SA) (4) .…”

Passively Q‐switched Tm:YAG ceramic laser with TiS2 saturable absorber

“…23 These graphene-like 2D nanomaterials' applications in ultrafast photonics are due to their superior photonic and electrical properties. [24][25][26][27] The transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) hold excellent saturable absorption properties, environmental stability, and electrical conductivity, and they have been investigated as SAs for mid-infrared lasers. 2D titanium disulfide (TiS 2 ), as a part of the transitional metal sulfides family, has come to notice for its remarkable electrical and optical properties.…”

“…Owing to impotent van der Waals and powerful covalently bonding interactions, these materials possess atomic 2D papery plate‐like constructions 23 . These graphene‐like 2D nanomaterials’ applications in ultrafast photonics are due to their superior photonic and electrical properties 24–27 . The transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) hold excellent saturable absorption properties, environmental stability, and electrical conductivity, and they have been investigated as SAs for mid‐infrared lasers.…”

High Efficiency and High Stability for SHG in an Nd:YVO4 Laser with a KTP Intracavity and Q-Switching through Harmonic Modulation

“…One of them is the use of external modulation, where low emission power is achieved by using nonlinear waves for SHG. The stabilization of Nd:YVO 4 laser pulses with passive Q-switching has been studied [12,13]. This solution provides high conversion efficiency, and high power can be achieved by using flat waves [14].…”