Optimization of a Passively Q-switched Yb:YAG Laser Ignitor Pumped by a Laser Diode with Low Power and Long Pulse Width

We successfully constructed a passively Q-switched Yb:YAG laser ignitor pumped by a diode laser with low power and long pulse width. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to achieve a quasi-MW output power from an optimized Q-switch Yb:YAG laser ignitor by using a pumping diode laser module emitting at under a power of 23 W. The output pulse energy of our optimized laser is 0.98 mJ enclosed in a 1.06 ns pulse width, corresponding to a peak power of 0.92 MW.