Q-Switching Formulas:

The maximum output power P laser , max of the Q switch pulse outside the resonator is
R R R R

given by:
Peak power:

1 𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒 ∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 ∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡

𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟,𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ℎ𝜈𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟 � � (𝛾𝑜𝑐 ) � − ln − 1�
2 𝜎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝜏𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 ∆𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 ∆𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑

With photon energy ℎ𝜈𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟 , the cross-section of transversal mode in the active
medium 𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒 and the loss of the output coupler (𝛾𝑜𝑐 = − ln 𝑅𝑜𝑐 ).

The stored and out-coupled pulse energy E pulse of the Q switch pulse can be
R R

calculated from:
Pulse energy:

1 𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒 ∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡
𝐸𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑒 = ℎ𝜈𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟 (𝛾𝑜𝑐 ) ln � �
2 𝜎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 ∆𝑁𝑒𝑛𝑑

𝐹𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 is (1) for a four level laser.

The initial and final population inversion densities, ∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 and ∆𝑁𝑒𝑛𝑑 are related by
the transcendental equation:
∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡
∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 − ∆𝑁𝑒𝑛𝑑 = ∆𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 ln � �
∆𝑁𝑒𝑛𝑑
The pulse width of the Q-switch pulse can be defined as:
𝐸𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑒
∆𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑒,𝐹𝑊𝐻𝑀 =
𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟,𝑚𝑎𝑥
The pulse width of the Q-switch pulse can also be expressed as a function of the
inversion levels ∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 , ∆𝑁𝑒𝑛𝑑 , ∆𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 :
Pulse width
∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 − ∆𝑁𝑒𝑛𝑑
∆𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑒,𝐹𝑊𝐻𝑀 = 𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡
∆𝑁𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 − ∆𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 �1 + ln �
∆𝑁𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑
It is proportional to the resonator round-trip time τ round which is a function of the
optical length L res of the resonator:
2𝐿𝑟𝑒𝑠
𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 =
𝐶𝑜
Using these formulas, as an example the results for a Nd:YAG laser with cross-
section σ laser = 3.2x 10−19 cm2 and a photon energy of hν laser = 1.87 x10−19 J at
wavelength of 1064nm will be given. For a resonator with a length of 1m, a
reflectivity of 50% for the out-coupling mirror, a loss factor V = 0.95 and a start gain
G start = 4 from a rod length of 80mm and a mode diameter of 3 mm, there is a laser
intensity of (2.17x1026 photons cm−2 s−1) or 56MWcm−2, a peak power of (2.5 MW)
and a pulse energy of (65.7 mJ). The inversion population density ΔN end at the end of
the pulse is 5.4x 1015 cm−3. The pulse width is (20 ns) and the pulse built-up time
(5.53 ns).
References:
[1] O. Svelto, "Principles of Lasers", 4th edition, Springer, 1998.
[2] W. Koechner, "Solid-State Laser Engineering", 6th edition, Springer, 2005.