Double-pulse YAG:Nd3+ laser with a controllable delay in the 20–100 ns range

A model is proposed for the dynamics of evolution of various transverse modes in the resonator of a passively Q-switched laser. On the basis of this reasoning, a double-pulse YAG:Nd³⁺ laser with a delay between pulses controllable in the 20–100 ns range was implemented experimentally. A satisfactory agreement was obtained between the parameters of the real laser and the results of the numerical calculations. By using this laser to irradiate a target, it was possible to improve severalfold the contrast of the laser plasma luminescence spectrum.