Duty cycle ratio dependence on the performance of a Q-switched laser with an Er3+-Yb3+ codoped glass waveguide

We examine the performance of a hybrid Q-switched LiNbO3 and Er3+-Yb3+ doped glass waveguide laser as a modulation function of the duty cycle ratio. As the duty cycle ratio decreases, the laser operates at higher peak. power and pulse width. At low duty cycle ratio (1%), we observe variations in the Q-switched pulse shape; while the laser produces 59-W and 200-ns pulses to a 1-kHz repetition rate for a 50% duty cycle, it yields 27-W and 100-ns pulses to a 10-kHz repetition rate for a 0.01% duty cycle. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 130.3120, 140.3540.