Acousto Optic Q-Switches, - Brimrose - #1

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Brimrose Corporation of America 19 Loveton Circle Sparks, MD 21152-9201 USA Phone: +1 410 472-7070 Fax: +1 410 472-7960 E-Mail: offices@brimrose.com Web: http://www.brimrose.com 1 Acousto Optic Q-switch Features/Applications · High Damage Threshold · Up to 80 MHz RF Frequency · Analog Light Intensity Modulation · Digital Switching On/Off · Water or Thermoelectrically cooled · Low Cost Acousto-optic devices have long been used in a variety of laser intracavity applications. These applications can be divided into two categories: zero-beam order applications and diffracted beam applications. One of the zero-order beam applications is A-O Q-switching. A Q-switched laser is actually a variable cavity loss laser. Most of the time, the laser is placed in a state where the cavity loss is larger than the gain. As a result, there is no lasing and the pumping source produces a very large population inversion. After the cavity loss is suddenly decreased, a very intense pulse of stimulated radiation is obtained. Brimrose offers the most complete line of Acousto-Optic Q-switching systems for industrial and laboratory applications. Brimrose Q-switches are designed for the highest conversion efficiency of RF energy into acoustic energy by attaching the transducer to the crystal with an advanced vacuum metallized process. Careful attention is given to the optimum transfer of heat from the Qswitch. Q-switches are fabricated from high optical quality Tellurium Dioxide, Fused Quartz, or other acousto-optic materials with Brewster cut optical faces or durable hard oxide AR coatings for high optical power applications. All of these features result in the production of highly reliable Q-switches at very competitive prices.