Abstract

A Q-switched, injection-seeded, single-frequency Yb:YAG disk laser with the energy, beam quality, and time-bandwidth product appropriate for coherent laser radar has been demonstrated. The unseeded laser has been Q-switched at pulse repetition frequencies of 300 Hz to 10,000 Hz and outputs up to 12 mJ/pulse. In single-frequency configuration, the laser has output up to 22 W with pulse durations varying from 210 ns to 540 ns duration.

© 2002 Optical Society of America