Q-switching of a high-power solid-state laser by a fast scanning Fabry — Perot interferometer

An investigation was made of the suitability of a Q-switch, based on a piezoelectrically scanned short-base Fabry—Perot interferometer, for an Nd³⁺:YAG laser with an average output radiation power up to 2 kW. The proposed switch made it possible to generate of giant pulses of 60 — 300 ns duration at a repetition rate of 20 — 100 kHz. Throughout the investigated range of the pulse repetition rates the average power was at least equal to that obtained by cw lasing. Special requirements to be satisfied by the interferometer, essential for efficient Q-switching, were considered.