High energy Q-switched 0.9 μm laser

A Q-switched laser, comprising:

• a first mirror;
• a second mirror;
• an optical gain element for providing gain to a first optical signal centered about an λ1 wavelength and having a P1 polarization, and to a second optical signal centered about an λ2 wavelength and having a P2 polarization;
• an optical retardation element for transforming said P2 polarization to a P3 polarization that is substantially orthogonal to said P1 polarization;
• a linear polarizer for reflecting said first optical signal between said first and second mirrors to define an optical resonant cavity, and for rejecting said second optical signal from said optical resonant cavity;
• and
• a Q-switch for selectively switching between a first state which prevents said first optical signal from resonating in said optical resonant cavity, and a second state which allows said first optical signal to resonate in said optical resonant cavity, whereupon a pulse of said first optical signal is emitted through said second mirror, and wherein said λ1 wavelength is about 0.946 μm, said first optical signal is retarded by 2λ1 for each pass of said first optical signal through said optical retardation element, said λ2 wavelength is about 1.072 μm, and said second optical signal is retarded by 1.75λ2 for each pass of said second optical signal through said optical retardation element.

A Q-switched laser, comprising:

• a first mirror;
• a second mirror;
• an optical gain element for providing gain to a first optical signal centered about an λ1 wavelength and a second optical signal centered about an λ2 wavelength;
• an optical retardation element for retarding said first optical signal by 2λ1 for each pass of said first optical signal through said optical retardation element, and for retarding said second optical signal by 1.75λ2 for each pass of said second optical signal through said optical retardation element;
• a linear polarizer for reflecting said first optical signal between said first and second mirrors to define an optical resonant cavity, and for rejecting said second optical signal from said optical resonant cavity;
• a Q-switch for selectively switching between a first state which prevents said first optical signal from resonating in said optical resonant cavity, and a second state which allows said first optical signal to resonate in said optical resonant cavity, whereupon a pulse of said first optical signal is emitted through said second mirror.