The aim of this chapter is to highlight the role of simulation methods as tools for analysis of low and medium average power fiber laser operated in passively Q-switched and/or mode-locking regimes into the design of various applications such as materials micro-processing of sensor applications. The chapter’s purpose consists in making available to specialists in the field of lasers, electro-optics and even nano-photonics improved procedures for designing high-accuracy remote sensors dedicated to large range of laboratory, industrial and military applications. The reason that this chapter deals with passive optical Q-switching and mode-locking techniques tailored for fiber lasers is the high percentage of sensing devices operating in this regime. Numerical simulation results obtained for this class of laser emitters can be used for other types of lasers, such as optical fiber lasers. There are briefly presented the two main mathematical methods used to analyze solid laser oscillators in passive optical Q-switching regime: the coupled rate equations approach and the iterative approach. The validation of the presented numerical simulation methods is done by comparison with experimental results.
Part of the book: Fiber Laser