Influence of the shape of a pump radiation pulse on the energy stored in neodymium-glass amplifiers

Amplification of a weak signal from a Q-switched laser was used in a study of the influence of the shape of a pump radiation pulse on the population inversion in an amplifier made of neodymium glass of the GLS1 type. The use of an asymmetric pulse with a steeper leading edge produced results better (by 15–25%) from the energy point of view than pumping with bell-shaped pulses. Systems for shaping of asymmetric radiation pulses were investigated.