Optimization of the pulse energy of GaAs saturable absorber Q-switched lasers

By taking into account the single-photon absorption (SPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) processes of GaAs, the Gaussian spatial distributions of the intracavity photon density and the initial population-inversion density, and the pumping and the spontaneous emission during the pulse formation, the new normalized rate equations of a GaAs saturable absorber Q-switched laser are solved. The key parameters of an optimally coupled GaAs saturable absorber Q-switched laser are determined, including the optimal normalized coupling parameter and the optimal normalized GaAs saturable absorber parameters, which can maximize the pulse energy, and a group of general curves are generated for the first time, which clearly show the dependence of the optimal key parameters on the parameters of the gain medium, the GaAs saturable absorber, and the resonator. In addition, the influence including the space variation, the pumping and the spontaneous emission is also shown. Sample calculations for a diode-pumped Nd3+:YVO4 laser with a GaAs saturable absorber are presented to demonstrate the use of the curves and the relevant formulas.