Far-field timing effects with passively Q-switched lasers.

Pulse-timing effects in the far field of a passively Q -switched microchip laser that are caused by the changing cavity mode during pulse emission are described. Measurements are performed on a passively Q -switched Nd:YAG laser that produces 3-ns pulses, and delays in pulse arrival times of up to ~270 ps are observed between the center and the off-axis position. The measured data agree well with a simple analytical model. Pulse delays of this order are important, for instance, in high-precision range-finding applications.

[1]  J. Zayhowski,et al.  Passively Q-switched microchip lasers and applications , 1998, 2003 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe (CLEO/Europe 2003) (IEEE Cat. No.03TH8666).

[2]  K. A. Ameur,et al.  Divergence temporal dynamics of a Q-switched laser. , 1997, Applied optics.

[3]  F. Kärtner,et al.  56-ps passively Q-switched diode-pumped microchip laser. , 1997, Optics letters.

[4]  J. Zayhowski,et al.  Diode-pumped passively Q-switched picosecond microchip lasers. , 1994, Optics letters.

[5]  G. Reali,et al.  Time varyingM2 inQ-switched lasers , 1992 .