Influence of the lifetime of the 4I11/2 level of Nd3+ on the energy characteristics of a Q-switched laser

The rate equations are solved for a Q-switched laser allowing for the lower level lifetime. The equations are reduced to dimensionless variables. The results obtained can be used to calculate the energy characteristics of lasers with all possible initial parameters. The special cases of the influence of the lifetime of the lower level ⁴I_11/2 and of the initial population inversion on the laser efficiency are considered.