Compact 0.7 mJ/11 ns eye-safe erbium laser

Abstract

We report on the development of a compact diode-end-pumped eye-safe (similar to 1.54 mu m) passively-cooled Er, Yb:glass laser. The design of this laser is facilitated by the use of a double-pass pumping scheme and a special ZrO2 diffuse reflector for a uniform pump distribution. In the free-running mode, this laser generates 8.2 mJ/3 ms pulses with a slope efficiency of 15%. Passive Q-switching is provided by saturable absorbers made of transparent glass-ceramics containing Co2+:gamma-Ga2O3 or Co2+:MgAl2O4 nanocrystals with a spinel structure. In the latter case, 0.7 mJ/10.5 ns pulses are generated corresponding to >60 kW peak power and good beam quality (M-2 = 1.4). The designed laser is suitable for portable range-finders.