Efficient high-energy passively Q-switched Yb:GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ laser

Abstract

A compact diode-pumped high-pulse-energy Yb:GdCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) laser passively Q-switched with a Cr(4+):YAG saturable absorber is demonstrated at room temperature. An output power of 1.05 W is generated at a pulse repetition rate of 2.5 kHz when the pump power absorbed is 7.7 W, with a slope efficiency determined to be 40%. The laser pulse generated is 10.0 ns in duration, with pulse energy as high as 420 μJ and peak power amounting to 42 kW.

Passively Q-switched laser action of Yb:LaCa4O(BO3)3 crystal

“…One of the most attractive applications of these Yb-ion doped oxyborates is to make high-energy Q-switched lasers by taking advantage of their long fluorescence lifetime and small stimulated emission cross-section (2.2-2.5 ms and 0.46-0.55 × 10 −20 cm 2 for Yb:YCOB and Yb:GdCOB [5,6]). Many investigations have been carried out regarding the active Q-switching and passive Q-switching laser performance of Yb:YCOB or Yb:GdCOB [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], revealing their superiority to other Yb-ion crystals in the generation of high-energy laser pulses [8-12, 15, 16]. It is therefore of interest and relevance to investigate the Q-switching laser properties of the Yb:LaCOB crystal, which, up to now, still remain unknown.…”