Q-switch rise time effect in flash-pumped solid state lasers

The effect of the rise time of the Pockels cell on the output laser pulse is investigated. The pump system in a flash pumped Nd:YAG laser with unstable resonator is numerically analyzed and simulated. The time dependent flash discharge current is calculated and the optical time-dependent variation of the flash pulse is deduced. The numerical simulation of the whole laser gives the solution of the system of four level Nd:YAG differential rate equations. The pump power is considered variable and dependent on the flash pump pulse shape and power. The Q-switch rise time is included in the rate equations as a variable time dependant loss parameter. The laser pulse shape and output characteristics are calculated. Numerical and some experimental results are presented and discussed.