Open AccessThe potential of Yb:YCa_4O(BO_3)_3 crystal in generating high-energy laser pulses
Author(s) -
Junhai Liu,
Qibiao Dai,
Yong Wan,
Wenjuan Han,
Xuemin Tian
Publication year - 2013
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.21.009365
Subject(s) - laser , materials science , optics , q switching , pulse duration , crystal (programming language) , output coupler , saturable absorption , pulse (music) , optoelectronics , fiber laser , physics , detector , computer science , programming language
The passive Q-switching laser performance of Yb:YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) is studied with crystals cut along the principal optical axes. Using a Cr(4+):YAG saturable absorber with initial transmission of 93.7% and an output coupler of transmission of 40%, efficient Q-switched laser operation is achieved with a X-cut crystal, generating an output power of 2.14 W at a pulse repetition rate of 4.5 kHz. The resulting laser pulse is 9.3 ns in duration, with the energy being as high as 476 μJ and the peak power amounting to 51.2 kW. The results demonstrated in this work reveal the great potential of this crystal in developing high-energy compact pulsed lasers.