Q-switched operation with Fox-Smith-Michelson laser cavity

A new kind of three‐mirror composite cavity, Fox‐Smith‐Michelson cavity has been configured. This laser cavity is capable of high power output, owing to the low threshold of Michelson cavity. Also, thanks to the mode selection function of Fox‐Smith cavity, stable pulses at high repetition rate can be generated. In our experiment, 15.54 W CW output at 1064 nm has been achieved, with an optic‐to‐optic conversion efficiency of 42.2%. At the Q‐switching repetition rate of 100 kHz, the average output power is 11.92W, with an optic‐to‐optic conversion efficiency of 38.2%. For Q‐switching frequency from 30 kHz to 100 kHz, the pulse width variation is below 4.4% and the amplitude variation is below 4.8%. (© 2008 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA)