Watt-level, kHz pulsed ASE source with pulse-width close to round-trip time based on Nd:GdVO4 bounce geometry

Abstract

We demonstrate a watt-level, kHz nanosecond-pulse ASE source with its pulse-width being close to its round-trip time. The ASE uses a Nd:GdVO4 high gain bounce geometry structure without an output coupler. Using an EOQ (electro-optics Q-switch) device with high extinction-ratio, the pulse-width reaches 2.28, 1.73 and 1.17 ns under three effective cavity lengths, respectively. All these pulse-widths are close to the round-trip time of the corresponding effective cavity lengths. With the pulse-width being 1.17 ns, maximum output energy of 120 {\mu}J and peak power of 100 kW are achieved. This study offers a convenient method to obtain high-peak-power short pulses, comparing with cavity-dumping method