Experimental and theoretical study of monomode vectorial lasers passively Q switched by a [Formula Presented] yttrium aluminum garnet absorber

Marc Brunel, Olivier Emile, Marc Vallet, Fabien Bretenaker, Albert Le Floch, Laurent Fulbert, Jean Marty, Bernard Ferrand, Engin Molva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The dynamics of a solid-state laser sustaining the oscillation of two orthogonally polarized eigenstates and passively Q switched by a [Formula Presented] (YAG denotes yttrium aluminum garnet) saturable absorber is experimentally investigated. A set of rate equations in which the orientation-dependent interactions between the intensities and the saturable absorber have been taken into account is developed to describe theoretically the evolution of such a laser. When a [001]-cut [Formula Presented] plate is used, orthogonally polarized pulsed eigenstates are emitted either successively or simultaneously, depending on the orientations of the eigenstates with respect to the crystallographic axes. Namely, in the latter case, beat note carrying pulses are emitted, whose beat frequency is continuously tunable. On the other hand, when a [111]-cut [Formula Presented] plate is used, the simultaneity regime is never observed. All experimental results, obtained using a diode pumped Nd:YAG laser, are well confirmed by the theoretical model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4052-4058
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume60
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1999
Externally publishedYes

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