Powerful algebraic model to design Q-switched lasers using saturable absorbers

Abstract

Using the rate equations and their stability analysis, an algebraic model has been developed to predict the values of characteristic magnitudes of the output of a laser operating in passive Q-switched regime, such as peak power, temporal pulse width, pulse energy and pulse period. The results are compared with the numerical integrations of the equations, and an excellent agreement in a vast range of values of the laser parameters (gain, saturable absorption, linear losses, cavity round-trip and saturation energies and lifetimes of laser medium and absorber) has been obtained. The model is very useful to design this type of lasers in an agile way, without the need of integration of the corresponding rate equations.