La3Ga5SiQ14 single-crystal Q switch used as an electro-optic device.

A new kind of electro-optic Q switch is designed by use of a La3Ga5SiQ14 (LGS) crystal. Because the LGS crystal is optically active, the Q switch is based on the consideration that the total rotation angle of the polarization plane is zero, whereas the polarized wave propagates through the Pockels cell back and forth, with the polarization plane gyration and electro-optic effect existing simultaneously. The LGS Q switch is a practical electro-optic device that can be used in medium output energy lasers to partially take the place of deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate and lithium niobate Q switches.