Thermal tuning of laser pulse parameters in passively Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers

Appl Opt. 2008 Aug 10;47(23):4262-6. doi: 10.1364/ao.47.004262.

Abstract

Modifying the output pulses of a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, operating at 1064 nm, was realized by heating the laser crystal. With the demonstrated laser setups, a 100 K temperature rise led to a more than 50% increase in the pulse energy and a more than 10% decrease in the pulse length. This method offers an effective way to tune the output of the laser without mechanical adjustment or a change of components.