6533b854fe1ef96bd12af2b6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Flashlamp-pumped Nd:KGW laser in MOPA configuration: comparative study of several rods

M. BoucherO. MussetJ.p. Boquillon

subject

Quantum opticsHigh-gain antennaMaterials sciencePhysics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)business.industryAmplifierGeneral EngineeringGeneral Physics and AstronomyPulse durationLaserRodlaw.inventionCrystalMaster oscillatorOpticslawbusiness

description

The laser performance of the Nd:KGW crystal has been studied in a master oscillator and power amplifier configuration (MOPA). Several crystals from two different producers were investigated for the oscillator and the amplifier. A maximum single-pass gain of 25 was observed in free-running and Q-switched mode. We obtained a maximum output amplified energy of 400 mJ at 30 Hz (with a pulse duration of 10 to 30 ns) with a divergence less than 3 mrad. We also studied the limitations of this configuration due to the very high gain of the Nd:KGW crystal.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s003400050766