Abstract

The output of most pulsed solid state lasers operating in a normal mode Gong-pulse) condition typically exhibits a transient spiking behavior, characteristic of relaxation oscillations. Suppression of this spiking behavior can be achieved by active or passive techniques which introduce an intensity dependent loss inside the laser resonator. In this paper, smooth, long-pulse operation of a flashpumped 2 μm Cr;Tm:YAG laser is achieved utilizing intracavity second harmonic generation.

© 1991 Optical Society of America