Compact, multi-wavelength, passively Q-switched laser by means of volume Bragg gratings (Conference Presentation)

Recent progress in the development of dual-wavelength passively Q-switched lasers has allowed for the generation of high-average-power, narrow-band THz waves based upon the frequency down-conversion in nonlinear crystals. Here we demonstrate a compact, multi-wavelength, passively Q-switched Nd3+:YAG laser utilizing volume Bragg gratings (VBG) for the spectral selectivity and combination of multiple modes oscillating in a single linear cavity. The cavity is capable of supporting more than two lasing modes, each having sub-30-ns pulse duration at 10s of KHz repetition rate. The presence of more than two wavelengths in the output beam further allows for the generation of multiple THz frequencies.