Laser Crystals and Components
A Passive Q-switch is a saturable absorber, during the operation process, when it is pumped using laser light, it stores energy and is transformed into a saturated state, its transmission increases which reduces the resonator loss with a fast rate, generating laser pulse. The pulse energy and duration are often fixed values, the increase of pumping power only increases the repetition rate of the pulses.
Q-switch crystals exhibit unique properties that enable efficient control of the laser pulse duration and energy output. Composed of materials with specific optical characteristics, these crystals undergo a rapid change in their optical properties when subjected to an external stimulus, such as an electrical field or light. Q-switch crystals are distinguished by their low saturation fluence (saturation energy per unit area), and when employed with converging beams, they can further diminish the saturation energy (saturation fluence multiplied by beam area)
Hangzhou Shalom EO offers various kinds of passive Q-switch crystal products, including Cr4+:YAG, Co2+:MgAl2O4, and V3+:YAG. While Cr:YAG is popular in the market and supports well the operations of 1μm Nd:YAG lasers, Co:MgAl2O4 (or Co:Spinel) is preferred for Erbium lasers at 1.54μm and V:YAG is an attractive candidate for 1.3μm lasers.
