Improvements of pulse energy and symmetry of diode-pumped hybrid Q-switched mode-locked Nd:Lu0.15Y0.85VO4 laser at 1.34 μm

Diode-pumped hybrid Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) Nd:Lu0.15Y0.85VO4 laser operating at 1.34 μm with acousto-optic (AO) modulator and Co:LMA saturable absorber has been demonstrated. The symmetry of the Q-switched envelopes with the hybrid QML is evidently improved in comparison with the single QML. The hybrid QML laser can obtain a modulation depth of nearly 100%. The experimental results show that with the hybrid QML the output Q-switched pulse energy increases to 923% and the Q-switched pulse width reduces to 18%, if compared with the single passively QML.

► The symmetry of the Q-switched envelopes with the hybrid QML is evidently improved in comparison with the single QML.
► The modulation depth of the hybrid QML laser can reach nearly 100%.
► The Q-switched pulse energy with the hybrid QML increases to 923% if compared with the single passively QML.
► With the hybrid QML, the Q-switched pulse width reduces to 18% of that with the single passively QML.