Single-Frequency Side-Diode-Pumped Monopulse Nd:YAG-Laser with a Ring Cavity

The formation features of the single-frequency unidirectional monopulse lasing mode of a Nd:YAG laser with a triple-mirror ring cavity and a side diode-pump with injection of external narrow-band optical radiation into the cavity are studied. The asymmetric layout of the intracavity elements relative to the output mirror and depolarization effects in them cause the energy and polarization of the monopulse Nd:YAG ring laser to differ depending on the input direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the injected radiation. The difference in the output characteristics of the single-frequency unidirectional monopulse Nd:YAG ring laser is most evident for a change from active to passive Q-switching.