Optimization of the conditions of utilization of the stored energy by Q switching active elements in the form of gadolinium scandium gallium garnet crystals activated with Cr and Nd

It is shown that a 2.5-fold improvement in the efficiency of a laser with a gadolinium scandium gallium garnet crystal activated with Cr and Nd (GSGG:Cr:Nd), compared with a YAG:Nd laser crystal in a plane-plane resonator, was retained up to average pump powers of ~500 W. The efficient utilization of the energy stored in a GSGG:Cr:Nd crystal during formation of a giant pulse was achieved by reducing the pump duration to 100μsec and reducing the delay of the operation of an electrooptic switch to 60–75μsec.