High-power LiNbO/sub 3/ pockels cell Q-switched flash lamp-pumped Er:YAG laser as a microsurgery instrument for ophthalmologic applications

Lasers generating in the range of 3 /spl mu/m are especially desired in medicine (e.g. microsurgery), mainly due to very high water absorption (above 10/sup 4/ cm/sup -1/) at 3 /spl mu/m wavelength range. The main effect occurring when high-peak power /spl mu/s pulses interact with a biological tissue is an ablation. Additionally, thermal effects should also be considered in terms of free running mode of a laser. One way of eliminating these undesirable thermal effects is the use of Q-switched lasers. In this paper we report on a record 1.4 MW peak power, actively Q-switched Er:YAG laser operating at 2.94 /spl mu/m. A Pockels cell consisting of a LiNbO/sub 3/ with dimensions of 35/spl times/9/spl times/5 mm and crystal faces cut at Brewsters angle was used as an active Q-switch.