Laser Q-Spoiling Using an Exploding Film

Abstract

Q-spoiling is observed when an easily vaporized absorbing film located within the resonant structure of a ruby laser is destroyed by initial stimulated emission. Two features of this new technique are operational simplicity and no severe power handling limitations. The resulting laser output is characterized by a single giant pulse of micro-second duration whose rise time (in the 20- to 40-nsec range) is at least as fast as reported for Q-spoiling by Kerr-cell shutters.