Accession Number:

ADA556640

Title:

VCSEL End-Pumped Passively Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser with Adjustable Pulse Energy

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS COMMAND FORT BELVOIR VA NIGHT VISION AND ELECTRONIC SENSORS DIRECTORATE

Personal Author(s):

• Goldberg, Lew
• McIntosh, Chris
• Cole, Brian

Report Date:

2011-02-28

Pagination or Media Count:

8.0

Abstract:

A compact, passively Q-switched NdYAG laser utilizing a Cr4YAG saturable absorber, is end-pumped by the focused emission from an 804 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser VCSEL array. By changing the VCSEL operating current, we demonstrated 2x adjustability in the laser output pulse energy, from 9 mJ to 18 mJ. This energy variation was attributed to changes in the angular distribution of VCSEL emission with drive current, resulting in a change in the pump intensity distribution generated by a pump-light-focusing lens.

Descriptors:

• *PULSED LASERS
• ENERGY
• PUMPS
• Q SWITCHING
• YAG LASERS
• YTTRIUM ALUMINUM GARNET

Subject Categories:

• Lasers and Masers

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE