Self-stabilized single-longitudinal-mode operation in a self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser

Abstract
It is shown, both theoretically and experimentally, that stable single-longitudinal-mode operation, with transform-limited spectral linewidth and without pulse-to-pulse mode competition, can be obtained in a monolithic self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG solid-state laser with a distributed saturable absorber. In this system, the lasing mode establishes a loss grating and thereby stabilizes itself.