Short-pulse-width repetitively Q-Switched ~2.7-μm Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser

Abstract

A short-pulse-width repetitively Q-switched 2.7-μm Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser is demonstrated using a specially designed mechanical switch, a metal plate carved with slits of both slit-width and duty-cycle optimized. With a 20% transmission output coupler, stable pulse trains with durations (full-width at half-maximum, FWHM) of 27-38 ns were generated with a repetition rate within the range of 0.26-4 kHz. The peak power at a 0.26 kHz repetition rate was ~3 kW.