Abstract

We demonstrate the third-order nonlinear optical properties of ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}{\mathrm{Y}}_3{\mathrm{Ga}}_5{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ (${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YGG}$) and $Q$-switched lasers with ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YGG}$ as the saturable absorber for the first time to our knowledge. The third-order nonlinear properties, including the optical Kerr nonlinearity and saturable absorption, were systematically measured and analyzed in detail by using a Z-scan technique. The measured data show that ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YGG}$ has a large nonlinear refractive index, ground-state absorption cross section, and excited-state absorption cross section in contrast to ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}{\mathrm{Y}}_3{\mathrm{Al}}_5{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ (${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YAG}$). With a Nd:YGG crystal as the gain medium and a ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YGG}$ crystal as the saturable absorber, the passively $Q$-switched laser was performed. The shortest pulse width and largest pulse energy were achieved at the absorbed pump power of 8 W with the values of 9.1 ns and 26.1 μJ, respectively, corresponding to the average output power of 0.87 W and peak power of 2.9 kW. The results indicate that ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{:}\mathrm{YGG}$ is an available and promising optical switcher for pulsed lasers.

© 2015 Optical Society of America

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