Dual-loss-modulated Q-switched and mode-locked YVO4/Nd:YVO4/KTP green laser with EO and Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber

By simultaneously employing the electro-optic (EO) modulator and Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber, a diode-pumped dual-loss-modulated Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) YVO4/NdYVO4/KTP green laser is presented. In comparison with the singly passively QML green laser with Cr4+:YAG, the dual-loss-modulated QML green laser with EO and Cr4+:YAG can generate more stable pulse train with deeper modulation depth, shorter pulse width, greater pulse energy and higher peak power. For the dual-loss-modulated QML green laser, at a pump power of 18 W and a repetition rate of 1 kHz, the pulse width and the pulse energy of the Q-switch envelope as well as the peak power of QML green laser are 42.1 ns, 360 mu J and 382 kW, respectively, corresponding to the pulse width compression 62%, the pulse energy improvement 10 times and the QML peak power increase 40 times when compared with that of the singly passively QML green laser. (c) 2010 Optical Society of America