Few ns Pulse Duration of Gain-Switched Ho:YAG Laser Pumped by an Active Q-Switched Tm:YLF Laser

Abstract

This paper describes a gain-switched Ho:YAG laser that emitted at 2089 nm, driven by an actively Q-switched Tm:YLF laser as the pumping source. The laser attained few ns short pulse durations with high energies at controlled repetition rates due to the active Q-switch pump source. Using the gain-switch method, stable short pulse durations ranging from 3.5 to 7.2 ns, with an energy per pulse of 0.4 to 0.52 mJ, were achieved at repetition rates of up to 2.5 kHz. This design can have significant advantages in various fields, where accuracy in the repetition rate is essential and a passive Q-switch cannot be implemented due to its accuracy limitations, including sensing, LIDAR, medical procedures, and material processing.