Q switching of a resonator by the metal–semiconductor phase transition

An experimental study was made of Q switching in a resonator by a mirror with a nonlinear reflection coefficient. This mirror was an interference reflecting structure containing a vanadium oxide film capable of undergoing a metal–semiconductor transition. The nonlinearity of the reflection coefficient was due to initiation of this phase transition by laser radiation. A determination was made of the parameters of a giant radiation pulse obtained using such a passive switch with a vanadium oxide film.