Open AccessPicosecond pulse generation in a hybrid Q-switched laser source by using a microelectromechanical mirror
Author(s) -
Vincent Couderc,
Aurelian Crunteanu,
Marc Fabert,
Florent Doutre,
Farid El Bassri,
Dominique Pagnoux,
Alain Jalocha
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.005524
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , laser , q switching , pulse duration , picosecond , pulse (music) , fiber laser , pulse width modulation , optoelectronics , cantilever , voltage , physics , quantum mechanics , detector , composite material
We present a novel Q-switched laser source using a micro-optical-electromechanical mirror (MOEM) designed for short pulse emission. It is based on a hybrid configuration including a passively Q-switched microchip laser coupled to a fiber cavity closed by a cantilever type MOEM acting as an active modulator. This specially designed mirror with a single reflecting gold membrane is switched by low bias voltage ~50 V (peak to peak). This device emits pulses at tunable repetition rates up to 1.6 kHz, with ~564 ps duration and 3.4 kW peak power, which constitutes the shortest pulse duration ever reported with MOEMs based pulsed lasers.