Generation of single-frequency high-power microsecond pulses by a ruby laser

It was established that mode competition has a decisive influence on the kinetics of the intensity and the emission spectrum of a ruby laser with slow resonator-Q switching. Smooth pulses having a duration of 1–10 μs, a spectral width of ~ 10 ^{– 4} cm ^{– 1}, and a power of up to 10 kW were obtained. It was demonstrated that, under free-running conditions, quasi-cw emission of a single mode (single-frequency lasing) with a duration of up to 300 μs and a radiation power higher than 100 W could be achieved. These results are of interest for high-speed interferometry.