Q-switching of mid-infrared Er:YAG laser was obtained with an electro-optical shutter. For that the LiNbO₃ Pockels cell was used in transversal quarter-wave arrangement with the Brewster angle cut faces used as a polarizer. Parameters and dependences of this Q-switched system were investigated, i.e. a pulse length and generated pulse energy, delay between switching of flashlamp and Q-switch circuit, high voltage applied on Pockels cell were measured and optimized. The resulted giant pulse length and energy was 60 ns and 55 mJ, respectively. This generated pulse was obtained for the applied voltage around 1.4 kV and for the optimum delay value 450 us. Problem of mid-infrared giant pulse delivery, which is needed for various technological applications, was solved by a specially designed cyclic olefin polymer coated silver hollow glass (COP/Ag) waveguide. Parameters of this waveguide were: diameter 700/850 um and length 1 m. The measured transmission was 74 % which corresponded to delivered intensity 86 MW/cm². Q-switched Er:YAG laser radiation in connection with this special delivery system gives a possibility of the surgical treatment in many medicine branches, for example ophthalmology, urology or dentistry.

Date Published: 1 September 2004
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 5460, Solid State Lasers and Amplifiers, (1 September 2004); doi: 10.1117/12.544817

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5460:
Solid State Lasers and Amplifiers
Alphan Sennaroglu; James G. Fujimoto; Clifford R. Pollock, Editor(s)