Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics (한국광학회지)

Optical Society of Korea (한국광학회)
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The characteristics of the passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser output energy with the initial absorbing effect of Cr4+:YAG absorber

수동 큐스위칭 Nd:YAG 레이저에서 포화흡수체 Cr4+:YAG의 초기 광흡수 효과와 출력 특성

  • Published : 2002.08.01
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Abstract

To understand the characteristics of the passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser output energy with $Cr^{4+}$:YAG saturable absorbers, the transmissions of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG and the inversion population densities of Nd:YAG at the onset of Q-switch were experimentally analysed. The measured transmissions at the onset of Q-switch were 0.70$\pm$0.02 and 0.62$\pm$0.02 for the 0.48 and 0.38 of initial transmission, respectively. It means that the initial transmission loss of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG absorber is reduced in a low Q-state due to the initial absorbing effect of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG. In pumping stage, $Cr^{4+}$:YAG has absorbing processes due to the fluorescence and amplified spontaneous emissions of the Nd:YAG even if there is no laser oscillation. The minimum population inversion densities for Qswitch were approximately 3.7${\times}{10^{17}}$ and 4.0${\times}{10^{17}}$ $cm^{-3}$, respectively. At the beginning of Q-switch, the number density of $Cr^{4+}$ions in the ground state of $Cr^{4+}$:YAG was approximately 1.4${\times}{10^{17}}$ $cm^{-3}$ and the ratio of the ground to the excited state of absorbing $Cr^{4+}$ions was 0.44 both. The modified theoretical output energies with the initial absorbing effect were 18 and 18.5 mJ. The measured output energies were 17$\pm$1 and 18$\pm$1.5 mJ, respectively. The quantum extraction efficiencies of Q-switch were 0.32 both. The theoretical Q-switched output results with the initial absorbing effect of the saturable absorber are a good agreement with the experimental results.

초기투과도 0.48과 0.38인 포화흡수체 $Cr^{4+}$: YAG를 사용한 수동 큐스위칭 Nd:YAG 공진기에서 포화흡수의 초기 광흡수 효과로 낮은 Q-상태에서 나타나는 포화흡수체의 투과 광손실 변화와 더불어 레이저 매질의 펌핑된 밀도반전 상태를 분석하였다. 포화흡수체의 초기 광흡수로 수동 큐스위칭 열림동작때 나타나는 포화흡수체의 투과도는 각각 0.70$\pm$0.01과 0.62$\pm$0.01이었다. 이는 큐스위칭 레이저 공진기의 초기 광손실이 간소함을 의미한다. 큐스위칭 열림동작 시점에서 측정된 두 $Cr^{4+}$:YAG의 기저상태 $Cr^{4+}$ 밀도수는 약 1.4${\times}{10^{17}}$$cm^{-3}$이고 기저상태에 대한 여기상태의 $Cr^{4+}$이온밀도수의 비는 약 44%이었다. 또, 큐스위칭 펄스 발생을 위해 펌핑된 최소 반전밀도수는 각각 3.6${\times}{10^{17}}$과 3.9${\times}{10^{17}}$ $cm^{-3}$이고 양자추출효율은 두 경우 모두 약 0.32였다. 낮은 Q-상태에서 나타나는 포화흡수체의 광흡수 효과를 고려한 수동 큐스위칭 레이저 출력에너지의 수정 이론값은 각각 18과 18.5 mJ로 측정된 실험값 약 17$\pm$1과 18$\pm$1.5mJ과 잘 일치함을 보였다.

Keywords

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