Patent ID: 6839362

Claim:
A laser system, comprising: a) a laser resonator cavity defined by a flat mirror and an outcoupler mirror, said flat mirror and said outcoupler mirror oriented to form an optical resonant axis; b) a lasing element within the laser resonator cavity; c) optical pumping means proximate to said lasing element; and d) a saturable absorber Q-switch lying along the resonant axis, said Q-switch including a monocrystalline lattice spinel crystal structure and chemical composition Mg 1-x Co x Al y O z , wherein x is greater than 0 and less than about 1, y is greater than 2 and less than about 8, and z is between about 4 and about 13, wherein the molar ratio of magnesium:cobalt:aluminum is (1−x):x:y, wherein x is greater than 0 and less than about 1, y is greater than 2 and less than about 8, said lattice having tetrahedral and octahedral positions, and wherein most of the magnesium and cobalt occupy tetrahedral positions.