Performance of doubly Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:LuVO4 laser with acousto-optic modulator and GaAs saturable absorber

A simultaneous Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) Nd: LuVO4 laser with an acousto-optic (AO) modulator and GaAs was presented. By inserting an AO modulator into the laser cavity, the stability of the QML pulses was improved and the pulse width was compressed significantly. The pulse energy and the peak power of mode-locked pulses under the Q-switched envelope had greatly increased. Considering the influences of the turnoff time and the modulation frequency of the AO modulator, a rate equation model for dual-loss modulated QML lasers was given and the numerical solutions of the rate equations were in good agreement with the experimental results. (C) 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.3599872]