Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Q-Switching

  • Chapter
Solid-State Laser Engineering

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Optical Sciences ((SSOS,volume 1))

Abstract

A mode of laser operation extensively employed for the generation of high pulse power is known as Q-switching. It has been so designated because the optical Q of the resonant cavity is altered when this technique is used [8.1, 2]. As was discussed in Chap. 3, the quality factor Q is defined as the ratio of the energy stored in the cavity to the energy loss per cycle. Consequently, the higher the quality factor, the lower the losses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. R.W. Hellwarth: In Advances in Quantum Electronics (Columbia Univ. Press, New York 1961 ) p. 334

    Google Scholar 

  2. F.J. McClung, R.W. Hellwarth: Proc. IRE 51, 46 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  3. W.G. Wagner, B.A. Lengyel: J. Appl. Phys. 34, 2040 (1963)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. R.B. Kay, G.S. Waldmann: J. Appl. Phys. 36, 1319 (1965)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. J.J. Degnan: IEEE J QE-25, 214 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  6. J.E. Midwinter: Brit. J. Appl. Phys. 16, 1125 (1965)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. A.R. Newberry: Brit. J. Appl. Phys. 1, 1849 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  8. G.D. Baldwin: IEEE J QE-7, 220 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  9. R.B. Chesler, M.A. Karr, J.E. Geusic: Proc IEEE 58, 1899 (1970)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. R.J. Collins, P. Kisliuk: J. Appl. Phys. 33, 2009 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  11. R.C. Benson, M.R. Mirarchi: IEEE Trans. MIL-8, 13 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  12. W. Buchman, W. Koechner, D. Rice: IEEE J QE-6, 747 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  13. I.W. Mackintosh: Appl. Opt. 8, 1991 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  14. E.L. Steele, W.C. Davis, R.L. Treuthart: Appl. Opt. 5, 5 (1966)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. E.J. Woodbury: IEEE J QE-3, 509 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  16. R. Renari: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. 1207, 112–123 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  17. J.G. Manni, G.A. Rines, P.F. Moulton: CLEO ‘87 (Baltimore, MA) paper THJ3

    Google Scholar 

  18. J.A. Hutchinson, T.H. Allik: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. OE/Laser 92 Los Angeles (1992) paper 1627–01

    Google Scholar 

  19. M. Marincek, M. Lukac: IEEE J QE-29, 2405 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  20. M. Born, E. Wolf: Principles of Optics, 2nd edn. ( Macmillan, New York 1964 )

    Google Scholar 

  21. I.P. Kaminow, E.H. Turner: Appl. Opt. 54, 1374 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  22. C.L. Hu: J. Appl. Phys. 38, 3275 (1967)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. B.H. Billings: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 39, 797 (1949)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. B.H. Billings: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 39, 802 (1949)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. R.O’B. Carpenter: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 40, 225 (1950)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. B.H. Billings: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 42, 12 (1952)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. R. Goldstein: Laser Focus 21 (February 1968)

    Google Scholar 

  28. J.T. Milek, S.J. Welles: Linear electro-optic modulator materials, Report AD 704–556, Hughes Aircraft Comp., Culver City, CA (January 1970)

    Google Scholar 

  29. F. Zernike Jr.: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 54, 1215 (1964)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. J.H. Ott, T.R. Sliker: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 54, 1442 (1964)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. T.R. Sliker, S.R. Burlage: J. Appl. Phys. 34, 1837 (1963)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. M. Yamazaki, T. Ogawa: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56, 1407 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. R.A. Phillips: J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56, 629 (1966)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. D. Milam: Appl. Opt. 12, 602 (1973)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. W.R. Hook, R.P. Hilberg: Appl. Opt. 10, 1179 (1971)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. M.G. Vitkov: Opt. Spectroscopy 27, 185 (1969)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. L.L. Steinmetz, T.W. Pouliot, B.C. Johnson: Appl. Opt. 12, 1468 (1973)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. M. Dore: IEEE J. QE-3, 555 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  39. C.H. Clayson: Electron. Lett. 2, 138 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. B. Trevelyan, J. Sci. Instr. 2, 425 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. J.M. Ley: Electron. Lett. 2, 12 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. M. Okada, S. Ieiri: IEEE J QE-6, 526 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  43. B. Stâdník: ACTA Technica SAV 1, 65 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  44. M.B. Davies, P.H. Sarkies, J.K. Wright: IEEE J. QE-4, 533 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  45. A.S. Bebchuk, L.A. Kulevskiy, V.V. Smirnov, Yu.N. Solov’yeva: Rad. Eng. and Electr. Phys. 14, 919 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  46. R.P. Hilberg, W.R. Hook: Appl. Opt. 9, 1939 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  47. M.K. Chun, J.T. Bischoff: IEEE J. QE-8, 715 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  48. W.R. Hook, R.P. Hilberg, R.H. Dishington: Proc IEEE 59, 1126 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. J.F. Ney: Physical Properties of Crystals (Oxford University Press, London, 1964 );

    Google Scholar 

  50. L.A. Shuvalov (ed.): Modern Crystallography IV, Springer Ser. Solid-State Sci., Vol. 37 ( Springer, Berlin Heidelberg 1984 )

    Google Scholar 

  51. A.W. Warner, M. Onoe, G.A. Coquin: J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 42, 1223 (1967)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. E.A. Teppo: Nd: YAG Laser Lab. Experiments, January 1972 to June 1973, Technical Note 4051–7, Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA (August 1973 )

    Google Scholar 

  53. T. Chuang, A.D. Hays, H.R. Verdun: OSA Proc.: Adv. Solid State Lasers 20, 314 (1994);

    Google Scholar 

  54. T. Chuang, A.D. Hays, H.R. Verdun: Appl. Opt. 33, 8355 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. M.J.P. Payne, H.W. Evans: CLEO ‘84, Anaheim, CA, Techn. digest, paper TUB16

    Google Scholar 

  56. W.E. Schmid, IEEE J. QE-16, 790 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  57. M.K. Chun, E.A. Teppo: Appl. Opt. 15, 1942 (1976)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. M.B. Rankin, G.D. Ferguson: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instr. Eng. 160, 67 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  59. J. Richards: Appl. Opt. 22, 1306 (1983)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. S.Z. Kurtev, O.E. Denchev, S.D. Savoy: Appl. Opt. 32, 278 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. J. Richards: Appl. Opt. 26, 2514 (1987)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. E.A. Lundstrom: Waveplate for correcting thermally induced stress birefringence in solid state lasers, U.S. patent 4,408, 334 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  63. A.R. Newberry: Brit. J. Appl. Phys. 1, 1849 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  64. E.I. Gordon: Proc. IEEE 54, 1391 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. R. Adler: IEEE Spectrum 4, 42 (1967)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. C.F. Quate, C.D. Wilkinson, D.K. Winslow: Proc IEEE 53, 1604 (1965)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. R.W. Dixon: IEEE J QE-3, 85 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  68. N. Uchida, N. Niizeki: Proc. IEEE 61, 1073 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. D. Maydan: IEEE J QE-6, 15 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  70. T. Nowicki: Electro-Opt. Syst. Design, 24 (January 1974)

    Google Scholar 

  71. M. Cohen: Electro-Opt. Syst. Design, 23 (April 1972)

    Google Scholar 

  72. D.E. Flinchbaugh: Electro-Opt. Syst. Design, 24 (January 1974)

    Google Scholar 

  73. D.A. Pinnow: IEEE J QE-6, 223 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  74. R.W. Dixon: J. Appl. Phys. 38, 5149 (1967)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  75. Isomet Data Sheet, Acousto-Optic Q-switch, Model 453 (May 1973)

    Google Scholar 

  76. M.G. Cohen: Optical Spectra, 32 (November 1973)

    Google Scholar 

  77. M.G. Cohen, R.T. Daly, R.A. Kaplan: IEEE J. QE-7, 58 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  78. R.B. Chesler, D.A. Pinnow, W.W. Benson: Appl. Opt. 10, 2562 (1971)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  79. T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, V. Lupei, G. Philipps, T. Beck, H. Weber: SPIE, Opt. Eng. 35, 1247 (May 1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  80. T.T. Basiev, A.N. Kravets, A.V. Fedin: Quantum Electron. 23, 513 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  81. M. Hercher: Appl. Opt. 6, 947 (1967)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  82. Z. Burshtein, P. Blau, Y. Kalisky, Y. Shimony, M.R. Kokta: IEEE J QE-34, 292 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  83. Y. Shimony, Z. Burshtein, Y. Kalisky: IEEE J. QE-31, 1738 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  84. A.D. Hays, R. Burnham: Trends in Optics and Photonics 10, 129 ( Opt. Soc. Am., Washington, DC 1997 )

    Google Scholar 

  85. G. Xiao, M. Bass: IEEE J. QE-33, 41 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  86. G. Xiao, M. Bass: IEEE J. QE-34, 1142 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  87. A. Agnesi, S. Dell’Acqua, E. Piccinini, G. Reali, G. Piccinno: IEEE J QE-34, 1480 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  88. J.A. Morris, C.R. Pollock: Opt. Lett. 15, 440 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  89. J.J. Degnan: IEEE J QE-31, 1890 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  90. R. Wu, S. Hamlin, J.A. Hutchinson, L.T. Marshall: Trends in Optics and Photonics 10, 145 ( Opt. Soc. Am., Washington, DC 1997 )

    Google Scholar 

  91. R.D. Stultz, M.B. Camargo, M. Lawler, D. Rockafellow, M. Birnbaum: OSA Advanced Solid State Lasers Conference, Coeur d’Alene, ID (1998) p. 330

    Google Scholar 

  92. W.R. Hook, R.H. Dishington, R.P. Hilberg: Appl. Phys. Lett. 9, 125 (1966)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  93. W.J. Rundle: J. Appl. Phys. 39, 5338 (1968)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  94. W.J. Rundle: IEEE J QE-5, 342 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  95. W.R. Hook: Proc IEEE 54, 1954 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  96. W. Rundle, W.K. Pendleton: IEEE J. QE-12, (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  97. A.E. Siegmann: IEEE J. QE-9,. 247 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  98. D. Milam, R.A. Bradbury, A. Hordvik, H. Schlossberg, A. Szöke: IEEE J. QE-10, 20 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  99. D. Maydan, R.B. Chesler: J. Appl. Phys. 42, 1031 (1971)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  100. R.B. Chesler, D. Maydan: J. Appl. Phys. 42, 1028 (1971)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  101. D. Cheng: IEEE J. QE-9, 585 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  102. D. Maydan: J. Appl. Phys. 41, 1552 (1970)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  103. H. A. Kruegle, L. Klein: Appl. Opt. 15, 466 (1976)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  104. R.H. Johnson: IEEE J QE-9, 255 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  105. C.W. Reno: Appl. Opt. 12, 883 (1973)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  106. A. Hays, Fibertek, Inc.: Private commun. (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  107. J. Trenholme: Extraction of Energy from Laser Amplifiers. Laser Program Annual Report (1986) Chap. 7. Report UCRL 50021–86

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fibertek, Inc., 510 Herndon Parkway, 20170, Herndon, VA, USA

    Dr. Walter Koechner

Authors
  1. Dr. Walter Koechner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Koechner, W. (1999). Q-Switching. In: Solid-State Laser Engineering. Springer Series in Optical Sciences, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-14219-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-14219-6_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-14221-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-14219-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation