Passively Q-switched 8.5-ns Pr3+:YLF laser at 640 nm

We report on short pulse generation from a passively Q-switched Pr3+:LiYF4 laser operating at 640 nm. By reducing the cavity length and utilizing Co:MgAl2O4 as the saturable absorber, we obtain the shortest pulse durations from any Q-switched Pr3+ laser. Under pumping with a frequency-doubled optically pumped semiconductor laser at a wavelength of 479.05 nm we realized (8.5 +/- 1) ns long pulses at a repetition rate of 0.78 MHz from a 7.5 mm long cavity at an average output power of 1.0 W. In that case, the laser pulse energy and duration were 1.3 mu J and 8.5 ns, respectively. The highest pulse energy amounts to 1.8 mu J at a pulse peak power of 0.19 kW in 9.2 ns pulses at a repetition rate of 0.48 MHz.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the generation of short pulses from a passively Q-switched Pr3+:LiYF4 laser operating at 640 nm. By optimizing the cavity length and using the saturable absorber Co:MgAl2O4, they achieved the shortest pulse durations compared to other Q-switched Pr3+ lasers. The laser produced pulses with varying energy and duration at different repetition rates.