Self Q-switched Nd, Cr:YAG transparent ceramics

Self Q-switched Nd, Cr:YAG laser rods were produced via additive manufacturing of transparent ceramics and lased. Two identical rods were produced and air annealed at different temperatures to vary the Cr⁴⁺ concentration. The pulse width varied based on the Cr⁴⁺ concentration from 10 to 18ns. The pulse repetition rate increased with the pumping intensity, up to 4 pulses within a 200μs pumping time. The pulse energy remained nearly constant at about 8mJ, with some variation attributed to thermal lensing.