Electro-optic active Q-switched Tm:YLF laser based on polarization modulation

An electro-optic active Q-switched Tm:YLF laser (1880 nm ) employing a novel, to the best of our knowledge, switching scheme is presented. The switching is done by a potassium lithium tantalate niobate (KLTN) crystal operated slightly above the ferroelectric phase transition, cut in a trapezoidal shape for reducing acousto-optic oscillations. The novel switching scheme exploits the emission cross section difference between the pi and sigma polarizations in the Tm:YLF and overcomes the residual oscillation effects even at high repetition rates. The laser exhibited stable operation yielding pulses of 0.81 mJ and pulse duration of 30 ns at 5 kHz, and pulses of 1.25 mJ and pulse duration of 19 ns at 500 Hz. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America

Automated summary

An active Q-switched Tm:YLF laser with a unique switching scheme utilizing a potassium lithium tantalate niobate crystal has been developed. This novel approach effectively reduces oscillation effects and allows for stable pulse output with shorter pulse durations and higher energy at different repetition rates. The laser system demonstrates improved performance in generating pulses at 5 kHz and 500 Hz repetition rates.