Stable dual-wavelength Q-switched Nd:YAG laser using a two-step energy extraction technique.

The generation of stable dual-wavelength pulses from an actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 and 1319 nm was demonstrated. Pulse energies of the dual-wavelength laser were extracted by two temporally separated stimulated-emission processes for a single pumping process, thereby avoiding line competition between the two laser transitions. Total energy of the order of 20 mJ was achieved for the two pulses, and the ratio of the pulse energies of the two lasers could be selected by adjusting the output couplings.