Q-Switched Operation of Microchip Laser Composite Cavities

当今的许多应用通常要求激光系统能够在非常短的时间间隔内提供准确的高峰值功率。这些应用的例子包括测距、激光打孔和切割，以及研究材料的光学性质。实现这一点的一种方法是对二极管泵浦的固体激光器进行Q开关。存在不同的方式来Q开关激光器，基本方法是当场在激光腔内建立时抑制激光，然后在一个脉冲中倾倒所有的能量。大多数调Q方法都受到低重复率和高系统成本的限制。本课题提出用调Q的短腔Yb：YAG微片激光器来研制一种随机时间编码激光器，工作在1.029 nm的超短脉冲激光，可以低成本批量生产。

Many applications today often require laser systems that can deliver an accurate amount of high peak power in a very short time interval. Examples of these applications include range finding, laser drilling and cutting, and studies of optical properties of materials. One method of achieving this is to Q-switch a diode-pumped solid-state laser. There are different ways to Q- switch a laser, the fundamental approach being to suppress lasing as the field builds within the laser cavity, then to dump all the power in a single pulse. Most Q- switching methods are limited by low repetition rates and high system cost. This program proposes to Q-switch a short cavity Yb:YAG microchip laser to develop a random time-encoded, very short pulse laser operating at 1.029 nm which can be mass-produced at low cost.