Details
Co2+:MgAl2O4 (or Co:Spinel) is a relatively new material for saturable absorber passive Q-switching in lasers emitting from 1.2 to 1.6 microns, in particular, for eye-safe 1.54 μm Er:glass laser.High absorption cross section of 3.5 x 10-19 cm2 permits Q-switching of Er:glass laser.High absorption cross section of 3.5 x 10-19 cm2 permits Q-switching of Er:glass laser without intracavity focusing both with flash lamp and diode-laser pumping. Negligible excited-state absorption results in high contrast of Q-switch, i.e. the ratio of initial (small signal) to saturated absorption is higher than 10. Finally, excellent optical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the crystal give an opportunity to design compact and reliable laser sources with this passive Q-switch.
