2.70 mu m emission Er:Cr:YSGG laser with LiNbO3 Pockels cell

Abstract

In this study, an electro-optically Q-switched 2.70 pm emission Er:Cr:YSGG laser with a LiNbO3 Pockels cell is investigated and compared with a FTIR Q-switched scheme. It can obtain nanosecond pulse at a low voltage of 1.4 kV using a CaF2 polarizer and a LiNbO3 crystal with Brewster's angle cut ends. Wavelength generation of 2.70 mu m was possible with a Fresnel loss at a rear mirror with a dielectric dichroic coating. The maximum output energy of 21.5 mJ (at 1 Hz repetition rate) was achieved in TEM21 mode using the output coupler with a reflectivity of 55% at 2.70 mu m. The generated maximum pulse energy and pulse width were 13.3 mJ and 159 ns in TEM00 mode, respectively The pulse width was shorter than 1.3 mu s of the FTIR Q-switched scheme.