AlGaInAs quantum-well saturable absorbers for a diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser at 1064 nm

We report the use of AlGaInAs quantum wells (QWs) as a saturable absorber in the Q-switching of a high-power diode-pumped Nd-doped 1064nm laser. The barrier layers are designed to locate the QW groups in the region of the nodes of the lasing standing wave for avoiding damage. With an incident pump power of 22 W at 878nm, an average output power of 6.8 W with a Q-switched pulse width of 0.85 ns at a pulse repetition rate of 105kHz was obtained.

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