1178 nm self-Q-switched Raman laser generation enabled by BaTeW₂O₉ crystal

Multifunctional composite crystals have received great attention as an effective way to simplify the laser cavity. In this work, a self-Q-switched Raman laser operating at 1178 nm is demonstrated by using a multifunctional composite crystal BaTeW2O9 (BTW). An acousto-optic modulator (AOM) with a diffraction efficiency of 74% is designed and fabricated based on the Raman crystal BTW. A 1064 nm pulsed laser with a maximum single pulse energy of 260.6 mu J corresponding to a pulse width of 42 ns is obtained by inserting the BTW AOM into the laser cavity with Nd: YAG as the laser gain medium. Then an 1178 nm self-Q-switched Raman laser with the maximum single pulse energy of 22.8 mu J corresponding to a pulse width of 10 ns is successfully obtained. This work not only provides a competitive multifunctional composite device that can simplify the Raman laser cavity design but also has guiding significance for the design and development of multifunctional composite crystals.