1106 nm Q -switched Nd:GAGG laser using gold nanocages as saturable absorbers

Using gold nanocages (GNCs) as saturable absorbers (SAs), passively Q-switched Nd:GAGG lasers at 1106 nm were demonstrated. For the laser at T = 3%, the maximum output power of 98 mW was received under the pump power of 6.70 W, with the shortest pulse width of 436 ns and the pulse repetition rate of 206 kHz. Q-switched pulse with the shortest pulse duration of 370 ns, pulse repetition rate of 170 kHz was achieved at transmittance T＝7% under the pump power of 7.69 W with the maximum average output power of 121 mW. These results indicate a great potential of the GNCs as SA in the near-infrared lasers.