Er:Ca5(PO4)3F saturable-absorber <i>Q</i> switch for the Er:glass laser at 1.53 μm

Abstract

Passive Q switching of an Er:phosphate glass laser using Er:Ca5(PO4)3F (Er:FAP) as a saturable absorber intracavity (IC) load is described for the first time. Q-switched output was obtained consisting of a 6-mJ single pulse of 83 ns full width at half maximum, with a 20% efficiency relative to the corresponding free-running output in the absence of the IC Er:FAP load.