time to our knowledge, passively Q switched by use of a Cr^ 2+: ZnSe saturable absorber. A
Q-switched Ho laser with 1.3-mJ pulse energy and∼ 90-ns pulse duration and a Q-switched
Tm laser with∼ 3.2-mJ pulse energy and 90-ns pulse duration were demonstrated.
Compared with the free-running output energies at the Q-switching threshold pump levels,
the Q-switching efficiencies were approximately 5% for the Ho: YAG laser and 16% for the …