Photoconductive switch control of optical devices

Oved S. F. Zucker; Iain Alexander McIntyre; Paul J. Solone; Kendall W. Cardwell; David E. Hargis

doi:10.1117/12.146551

9 June 1993 Photoconductive switch control of optical devices

Oved S. F. Zucker, Iain Alexander McIntyre, Paul J. Solone, Kendall W. Cardwell, David E. Hargis

Proceedings Volume 1873, Optically Activated Switching III; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.146551
Event: OE/LASE'93: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Scienceand Engineering, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

We report on the application of new electro-optic modulators which are controlled by photoconductive switches. Various configurations of modulator are presented and are applied to several applications. Experimental results are presented in which a photoconductively controlled modulator is used to Q-switch and cavity dump a Nd:YAG laser, utilizing only a single external trigger. The same modulator is also used to Q-switch, mode-lock and cavity dump the same laser. The use of the modulator results in a single laser being able to generate pulses in three duration ranges, i.e., approximately 20 ns, approximately 2 ns and approximately 70 ps. A similar modulator is used to suppress the pre-pulse generated by a regenerative amplifier and help attain a 10⁵ contrast ratio between signal and pre-pulse. Other modulators and applications are presented, including an approximately 30 ps Pockels cell for use as an optical gate.

Citation Download Citation

Oved S. F. Zucker, Iain Alexander McIntyre, Paul J. Solone, Kendall W. Cardwell, and David E. Hargis "Photoconductive switch control of optical devices", Proc. SPIE 1873, Optically Activated Switching III, (9 June 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.146551

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