Generation of pulses with sub-nanosecond duration and sub-joule energy in gain-switched Ti: Sapphire lasers.

We realized the generation of pulses with a 460 ps duration, 1% pulse duration stability, and 300 mJ pulsed energy in a gain-switched Ti: Sapphire laser. We show that a flattening of the pumping beam profile and an increase of pump fluence up to the threshold of second pulse generation are the main conditions to achieve pulses with minimum duration and maximum stability. The negative influence of pump nonuniformity on laser characteristics was also studied. The maximum pulse energy was restricted by available pump energy of the nanosecond Q-switched Nd: YAG laser.