Effect of turnoff time on characteristics of the output pulse in an AO Q-switched laser

A laser-end-diode-pumped actively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with acoustic-optic (AO) modulator is realized. By changing the position of AO in the cavity for changing the transit time of the acoustic-wave, the effect of the AO turnoff time on the characteristics of the output Q-switched pulse is obtained. The experimental results show that the longer transit time leads to the wider pulse duration. By considering the Gaussian spatial distribution of the intra-cavity photon density and the AO turnoff time including the electronic turnoff time and the transit time of the acoustic-wave, the numerical solutions of the coupled Q-switched rate equations are consistent with the experimental results.