EKSPLA offers a wide choice of solid-state saturable absorbers such as:
Co²⁺:MgAl₂O₄, Cr⁴⁺:YAG, V³⁺:YAG.

Co²⁺:MgAl₂O₄  is a relatively new material for passive Q-switching in lasers emitting from 1.2 to 1.6 µm, in particular, for eye-safe 1.54 µm Er:glass laser, but also works at 1.44 µm and 1.34 µm wavelengths. High absorption cross section (3.5 × 10^-19 cm²) permits Q-switching of Er:glass laser without intracavity focusing both with flash-lamp and diode-laser pumping. Negligible excited-state absorption results in high contrast of Q-switch, i.e. the ratio of initial (small signal) to saturated absorption is higher than 10 (Figure 1).

Cr⁴⁺:YAG is one of the best passive Q-switch for high power lasers emitting at ~1 µm wavelength. Standard diameter apertures – 5, 8, 9.5 mm and various initial transmission (or optical density) are available upon request. Also Cr⁴⁺:YAG laser rods for ultra-short pulse solid-state lasers are available.

V³⁺:YAG is relatively new material for passive Q-switch. Crystal works in a wavelength range 1-1.45 µm. Typical application – Q-switch for lasers emitting at 1.34 µm wavelength (Figure 2).

Finally, excellent optical, mechanical and thermal properties of the crystals give an opportunity to design compact and reliable laser sources with these passive q-swithches.

Fe:ZnSe, Cr:ZnSe, Co:ZnS solid-state saturable absorbers are also available upon request.
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