High-Energy Q-Switched 1645-nm Er:YAG Laser With a Co2+:MgAl2O4 Saturable Absorber

We demonstrate a high-energy, passively Q-switched Er:YAG laser with a Co2+: MgAl2O4 saturable absorber. Pumped by an Er-doped fiber laser, the Er:YAG laser generates 1645-nm pulses with the maximum pulse energy of 656 mu J and the pulse duration of less than 200 ns at a high repetition rate of 2.285 kHz. The output laser beam remains high beam quality with the maximum output power of 1.5 W. The horizontal and vertical M-2 factors are measured to be 1.22 and 1.32, respectively.

Automated summary

A high-energy, passively Q-switched Er:YAG laser utilizing a Co2+: MgAl2O4 saturable absorber has been demonstrated, producing pulses at 1645 nm with a maximum energy of 656 μJ and a pulse duration of less than 200 ns at a high repetition rate of 2.285 kHz. The output beam maintains high beam quality with a maximum power of 1.5 W, measured by horizontal and vertical M-2 factors of 1.22 and 1.32, respectively.