Compact Nd:YAP/V:YAG nanosecond pulse generator at 1342 nm

A compact Q-switched laser with a separate Nd:YAP gain part and V:YAG saturable absorber was designed and constructed. The use of a Nd:YAP gain crystal may have certain advantages, such as polarization and wavelength stability, over the more common Nd:YAG active medium. Constructed Nd:YAP/V:YAG compact laser provides linearly polarized radiation at a wavelength of 1342 nm. Stable pulses 12 ns long with energy up to almost 0.2 mJ were generated. This laser system could serve as an eye-safe radiation source of long-range high-resolution LIDAR for autonomous vehicle control.