Output characteristics of Q-switched solid-state lasers using intracavity MEMS micromirrors

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Bauer, Ralf and Paterson, Alan and Clark, Caspar and Uttamchandani, Deepak and Lubeigt, Walter (2015) Output characteristics of Q-switched solid-state lasers using intracavity MEMS micromirrors. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 21 (1). 1600908. ISSN 1077-260X (https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTQE.2014.2345700)

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Abstract

The output behavior of a Nd:YAG solid-state laser actively Q-switched by a MEMS scanning micromirror is presented. Using a gold-coated micromirror, maximum average output powers of 50mW and pulse durations as short as 120ns were obtained with a dual beam output. This output pattern originates from a pulse emission when the micromirror is at an angle from the cavity axis. The temporal and spatial behavior of this laser was experimentally characterized and then modelled using a numerical simulation of the laser rate equations. Finally, prospects for power-scaling this MEMS-based Q-switch technique are demonstrated using a dielectric-coated micromirror, which led to average output powers of up to 650mW and pulse energies above 40μJ.

ORCID iDs

Bauer, Ralf ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7927-9435, Paterson, Alan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1255-3254, Clark, Caspar, Uttamchandani, Deepak ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2362-4874 and Lubeigt, Walter;
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