Passively Q-switched Yb:YAG laser with a GaAs output coupler

By using GaAs as an output coupler as well as a saturable absorber, we demonstrated a diode-pumped passively Q-switched Yb:YAG laser at room temperature. At an incident pump power of 12.2 W, stable laser pulses of duration of 15.5 ns and energy of 75.6 muJ were generated at a repetition rate of 7.3 kHz. Effects of output coupling on the laser performance were investigated with a GaAs wafer that was coated with continuous variable rellectivity from 19.9-98.7%. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.