Frequency-stabilized high-power ruby laser Q switched by Rb(2) vapor.

Passive Q switching of a ruby laser by the use of molecular rubidium (Rb(2)) vapor has been realized. For the first time, to our knowledge, an integrally sapphire cell containing Rb(2) vapor was used as the saturable absorber, which ensures an operation period of several years. Single-frequency-stabilized giant pulses with 700-mJ energy, 22-ns duration, and 200-MHz spectral width were obtained.