Mechanical Devices

Q-switches have been designed based upon rotational, oscillatory, or translational motion of optical components. These techniques have in common that they inhibit laser action during the pump cycle by either blocking the light path, causing a mirror misalignment, or reducing the reflectivity of one of the resonator mirrors. Near the end of the flashlamp pulse, when maximum energy has been stored in the laser rod, a high Q-condition is established and a Q-switch pulse is emitted from the laser.
Mechanical Q-switches are relatively slow and tend to emit multiple pulses; also, the mechanical wear requires frequent maintenance. Owing to these disadvantages mechanical Q-switches have been replaced by electro-optic or acoustooptic devices.

مواضيع ذات صلة

الليزرات والسوائل التي تصعد إلى الأعلى

الليزر والميزر

Flashtube Explosion

Tube Failure

Plane–Parallel Resonator

Concave–Convex Resonator

Plano-Concave Resonator

Mirrors of Equal Curvature

Parasitic Oscillations

Prelasing

Depopulation Losses

The Three-Level System