A Doubly Q -switched Nd:GdYNbO 4 Laser with Acousto-optical Q -switch and Cr 4+ :YAG Saturable Absorber

In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time a doubly Q -switched pulsed laser, using a novel Nd:Gd 0 . 69 Y 0 . 3 NbO 4 mixed crystal and acousto-optical (AO) Q -switch and Cr 4+ :YAG saturable absorber. Compared to purely AO Q -switched lasers, the simultaneous use of AO Q -switches and Cr 4+ :YAG saturable absorbers provides the generation of a shorter pulse. We investigated in detail the output characteristics of pulsed Nd:Gd 0 . 69 Y 0 . 3 NbO 4 lasers.