An Intracavity-Triggered Passively-Switched Nd:YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Laser

We demonstrate an intracavity-triggered passively Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser within a diode-end-pumped configuration. We employ a Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber as the passive Q switch and an Nd:LiYF₄ (YLF) laser as the laser triggering of the Q-switched laser. Since we use the same Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal and output coupler with the Nd:YVO₄ laser, the Cr⁴⁺:YAG Q switch is triggered inside the Nd:YLF laser cavity. As a result, the timing jitter in standard deviation of Nd:YVO₄ laser can be reduced to 16 ns.     

Stable and Efficient Pulsed Mid-Infrared Laser Generation from an Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-Doped ZBLAN Fiber Laser

We demonstrate a stable and efficient passively Q-switched 2.8 μm Er³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber laser with a broadband semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. Enabled by the broadband optical modulator, the stable Q-switched fiber laser can deliver a maximum average power over 700 mW with corresponding per-pulse energy of 8.19 μJ and a pulse width of 1.3 μs at a repetition rate of 88.6 kHz under an incident pump power of 3.8 W. In addition, the slope efficiency can reach 22.5%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported slope efficiency for the passively Q-switched Er³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber laser.     

Voltage-on-Type RTP Pockels Cell for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-switch of an Er:YAG Laser at 1,617 nm

We report a resonantly diode-pumped electro-optic Q-switched Er:YAG laser operating at 1,617 nm using a voltage-on-type rubidium titanyl phosphate (RTP) Pockels cell as the modulator. The Er:YAG laser operates at a very stable Q-switching mode with a per pulse energy yield of 1.5 mJ and a pulse duration of 114 ns at 1 kHz PRF under an incident pump power of 21.6 W.     

A Single -Longitudinal-Mode Nd:Ce:YAG <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Laser Based on a Three-Plan Resonant Reflector

We present an efficient and compact passively Q-switched flash-lamp-pumped Nd:Ce:YAG singlelongitudinal-mode (SLM) laser system. With Cr⁴⁺:YAG as a saturable absorber, we design a three-plan resonant reflector for generating smooth SLM Q-switched pulses. We provide a theoretical calculation and optimization of the resonant reflector for improving the longitudinal-mode selection ability. We obtain a stable SLM output with a single-pulse energy of 10 mJ and a pulse width of 10.7 ns at 10 Hz. The near-diffraction-limited beam-quality parameter M² is less than 1.5. The system can operate with a repetition rate from 1 to 10 Hz. We achieve the stable laser operation with less than 3% fluctuation of the pulse energy within 10,000 shots.     

A Novel 1,066 nm Nd:Gd<Subscript>0<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>69</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>3</Subscript>NbO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Passively <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Pulse-Burst Laser

We demonstrate for the first time a Cr⁴⁺:YAG passively Q-switched 1066 nm pulse-burst laser under 879 nm direct pump with a novel Nd:Gd_0.69Y_0.3NbO₄ crystal. The output laser characteristics with different pump repetition rates and different Cr⁴⁺:YAG initial transmission are studied. Without the Cr⁴⁺:YAG, we obtain a maximum output energy of 2.55 mJ at an absorbed pump energy of 5.79 mJ with the highest 48% slope efficiency. The pulse-burst laser contains a maximum of 7 pulses for a Cr⁴⁺:YAG initial transmission of 55% and a pump repetition rate of 1 kHz. The single-pulse energy and narrowest pulse width reach 160 μJ and 5.5 ns at 38.2 kHz, with a peak power of 32 kW.     

High-Pulse-Energy Passively <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched 1,123 nm Laser with a Nd:GdYAG Mixed Garnet as Laser Medium

We demonstrate a diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdYAG mixed garnet laser at 1,123 nm. A Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal with an initial transmission of 97% is used as the saturable absorber. The maximum average output power is 1.05 W at an absorbed pumping power of 8.12 W. A single-pulse energy can reach up to 78.9 μJ, with a corresponding pulse repetition rate of 13.3 kHz.     

A Compact YAG/Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG Passively <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Pulse Burst Laser Pumped by 885 nm Laser Diode

We demonstrate a high-repetition-rate, short-pulse-width pulse burst laser from a compact 885 nm laser diode directly pumped by a passively Q-switched YAG/Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG laser. We investigate the output laser characteristics with different output transmissions and spot sizes of the pumping laser and compare these characteristics. After optimization, we achieve a shortest pulse width of 1.4 ns generated by a 1,064 nm pulse burst laser. The single-pulse energy reaches 239 μJ at 86.3 kHz, with a peak power of 117.2 kW.     

A Tm:YLF End-Pumped Acousto-Optic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Ho:YAG Laser

We report an acoustic Q-switched Ho:YAG laser end-pumped by a 1,908 nm Tm:YLF laser. The doping concentration of Ho:YAG crystal is 2 at.%, and dimensions ø5×20 mm. We measure the pulsedlaser output characteristics of the Ho:YAG laser at different repetition rates (RF). Under optimum experimental conditions, the high-power 2.1 μm output power reaches 4.17 W at a given pump power of 13.25 W and repetition frequency of 8.0 kHz. For a slope efficiency of 16.88%, the corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency reaches 31.47%. We obtain a minimum single pulsed energy of 7.36 mJ and a pulse width of 52.8 ns at a pump power of 10.52 W and repetition rate of 0.5 kHz, with a peak power of 139 kW.     

Dual-wavelength generation at the transverse mode locking in a diode-end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YLF/Cr<Superscript>4+</Superscript>:YAG laser

A dual-wavelength generation at 1047 and 1053 nm is implemented in a diode-endpumped Nd:YLF laser Q-switched by Cr:YAG. This generation is obtained by the tuning of the cavity length near the regions of the transverse-mode degeneracy.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Yb-Doped Fiber Ring Laser with a Saturable Absorber Based on a Graphene Polyvinyl Alcohol Film

We propose, design, and demonstrate a Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser (YDFL) employing a thin graphene polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film as a passive saturable absorber (SA). The graphene is synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite at room temperature in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution. Graphene flakes obtained from the process are mixed with PVA solution as the host polymer to produce a thin film, which acts as a passive Q-switcher in the YDFL ring cavity. The laser generates a stable pulse operating at a wavelength of 1,076.4 nm with a threshold pump power of 73.7 mW. At a maximum 980 nm pump power of 113.6 mW, the YDFL generates an optical pulse train with a repetition rate of 25.53 kHz and a pulse width of 10 μs. The maximum pulse energy of 50.9 nJ is obtained at a pump power of 109.9 mW. A higher-performance Q-switched YDFL is expected to be achieved with optimization of the graphene saturable absorber and the laser cavity.     

A High-Power,Long-Wavelength Infrared ZnGeP<Subscript>2</Subscript> Opo Pumped by a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Tm,Ho:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Laser

We report a high-power, long-wavelength infrared ZnGeP₂ (ZGP) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a Q-switched Tm,Ho:GdVO₄ laser. The wavelength tuning range of 7.8–9.9 μm is realized by rotating the external angle of the ZGP crystal. We obtain an output power over 30 mW across the whole wavelength range and achieve a 1.71 W output power at 8.08 μm by transmitting the OPO parameters, corresponding to an idler laser slope efficiency of 12.1%.     

Generation regimes of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with transverse LED pumping and multiloop self-pumped phase-conjugate cavity

The generation regimes in a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with transverse LED pumping and multiloop self-pumped phase-conjugate cavity on the gain gratings are studied. The differential efficiency of laser is 27% in the free-running regime at a pulse energy of up to 1 J and quality parameter M ² of no greater than 1.5. The pulse energy under passive Q-switching is no less than 60% of the pulse energy in the free-running regime at the same beam quality. The generation of the narrow-band radiation is demonstrated. A generation band of no greater than 1.2 GHz corresponds to the primary single-frequency high-power laser pulse in the free-running mode under conditions for self-Q-switching on the gain gratings. When additional elements (F ₂ ^? :LiF and Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystals) are introduced in the optical scheme of the phase-conjugate cavity, similar narrowband single-mode generation is observed in the passive Q-switching regime as a pulse train or monopulse. The laser pulse power is up to 2 MW at a pulse duration of 20 ns.     

Double-Arched LDA Stagger-Pumped Electro-Optic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Nd:YAG Green Laser Using KTP Double-Crystal Extracavity Frequency Doubling

We develop a laser utilizing second harmonic generation that exhibits both high single-pulse energy and high beam quality. The system starts with a double-arched laser-diode-array stagger-pumped electro-optic Q-switched Nd:YAG with a thermal lensing compensated convex-concave resonator. The 1,064 nm output beam is then frequency doubled in an extracavity KTP double-crystal assembly that offsets birefringence walk-off. We obtain a maximum single-pulse energy of 72.7 mJ at 532 nm with 176 mJ at 1,064 nm. The corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 41.3%, and the pulse width is 9.2 ns at a repetition rate of 20 Hz. The beam quality factor M² is 1.83 in both horizontal and vertical directions at the maximum output energy, and the energy stability is better than 3% across half an hour.     

Amplification of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Ho:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Oscillator in Thulium-Doped Large-Mode-Area Fiber

We report a high peak power, narrow linewidth, stable pulsed Ho:GdVO₄ amplifier based on thuliumdoped fiber, which produces 6.65 W average output power at 2,048 nm and 56.8 kW peak power with 11.7 ns pulse width at 10 kHz repetition rate. We use a simple Q-switched Ho:GdVO₄ laser as a seed laser and a thulium-doped fiber pumped by a 792 nm laser diode as an amplifier. The fiber amplifier provided 6.5 dB gain to the input signal. The spectral linewidth of the Ho:GdVO₄ amplifier remains < 0.5 nm with an M² beam quality of 1.36.     

Role of the nuclear and electromagnetic interactions in the coherent dissociation of the relativistic <Superscript>7</Superscript>Li nucleus into the <Superscript>3</Superscript>H + <Superscript>4</Superscript>He channel

The differential cross section in the transverse momentum Q and a total cross section of (31 ± 4) mb for the coherent dissociation of a 3-A-Ge V/c ⁷Li nucleus through the ³H + ⁴He channel have been measured on emulsion nuclei. The observed Q dependence of the cross section is explained by the predominant supposition of the nuclear diffraction patterns on light (C, N, O) and heavy (Br, Ag) emulsion nuclei. The contributions to the cross section from nuclear diffraction (Q ≤ 400 Me V/c) and Coulomb (Q ≤ 50 Me V/c) dissociations are calculated to be 40.7 and 4 mb, respectively.     

Investigation of the KLu(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystal as an acousto-optic material

A KLuW laser crystal is investigated as an acousto-optic material. It is shown that the crystal can be used in devices for controlling high-power laser radiation. Obtainable characteristics of promising classical devices (modulator, deflector) are estimated. A possibility of developing a new type of device for both lasing and Q-switching is analyzed.     

Acousto-optic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-switched Tm:Ho:YbAG laser pumped at 1678 nm

Acousto-optic Q-switched lasing has been obtained for the first time in a Tm:Ho:YbAGcrystal. The laser output power is analyzed as a function of the laser pulse repetition rate. It is found that at rates above 30 kHz the laser slope efficiency reaches maximum values (~20 to 30%), comparable with the efficiency in the cw mode. The shortest laser pulse width is about 40 ns, and the average output power reaches about 80mW.     

Efficient High-Power Ho:YAG Laser Pumped by Dual-End-Diode-Pumped Tm:YLF Laser

We report a Ho:YAG (Ho-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser pumped by a dual-end-diode-pumped Tm:YLF (Tm-doped yttrium lithium fluoride) laser to obtain an efficient experimental device with high output-power characteristics. We study the influence of the specific values of the output coupling mirror transmittance, the resonant cavity length, and the radius of curvature of the output coupling mirror on the Ho:YAG laser output characteristics. Under optimum experimental conditions, under which the output coupling mirror transmittance was 30%, the resonant cavity length was 25 mm and the output coupling mirror radius of curvature was 300 mm, and the maximum pumping power of the dual-end-diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser was 15.2 W. We obtain an efficient high-power 2.122-μm laser output of 7.98 W from the Ho:YAG laser. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 52.5%, and the beam quality factor figures are M _x ² ?=?2.89 and M _y ² ?=?2.97.     

Evaluation of the Integrated Cross Sections of Reactions of Exclusive Pion and Kaon Electroproduction off Protons in the Resonance Region at Photon Virtualities from 5 to 12 GeV<Superscript>2</Superscript>

The integrated cross sections of the ep → eπ⁺n, ep → eπ⁰p, ep → eK⁺Λ, and ep → eK⁺Σ⁰ reactions are evaluated in the energy range of nucleon resonance excitation at photon virtualities Q² from 5 to 12 GeV². These exclusive channels will be explored at photon virtualities Q² > 5 GeV² for the first time in future experiments with the CLAS12 detector. The cross-section evaluation is based on the extrapolation of exclusive contributions to the inclusive structure functions F₁ and F₂ from a region of Q² < 5 GeV², in which the experimental data are available, to the region of higher Q². This evaluation of cross sections is of particular importance in the development of the program of experiments with the CLAS12 detector for studying the structure of the ground and excited nucleon states, which may reveal the dynamics of strong interactions in the nonperturbative regime.     

Temperature dependence of the lasing efficiency of the three-micrometer YAG:Er laser

Experimental results and calculated data on the study of the temperature dependence of the lasing efficiency of the pulsed three-micrometer YAG:Er³⁺ laser in the range T = ?80 ? +80°C are presented. It was shown that a decrease in the laser crystal temperature from room temperature to T = ?80°C leads to an increase in the laser output energy by a factor of 3?4 at the same energy of lamp pumping. Accordingly, the differential lasing efficiency increases (about three times).