Control of phase locking in a set of lasers with self-pumped phase-conjugate gain-grating mirrors using a passive Q-switch

We studied the possibility of controlling phase-locked lasing of a set of lasers with self-pumped phase-conjugate gain-grating mirrors by using a passive Q-switch and selecting the gain of one of the lasers. The ranges of stable operation are calculated by mathematical simulation and well agree with the experimental results. Single-mode radiation in the form of trains of phase-locked laser pulses are experimentally obtained for the first time in a three-channel diffraction-coupled gain-grating Nd:YAG laser system with a LiF:F₂^- passive Q-switch. The space-time pattern of the trains of 1.064-μm nanosecond pulses is the same in the channels with and without Q-switch and their interference pattern contrast reaches 0.81.