Active feedback control of a Q-switched diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser

We have implemented the active feedback mechanism in a Q-switched diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser and showed that the optical pulse peak power can be controlled by varying the comparator voltage arising from the feedback circuit based on the fluorescence intensity. We believe that the scheme could easily be incorporated into other types of Q-switched diode-pumped solid-state lasers for better shot-to-shot peak power control.