Comparative studies of Nd:Y x Gd 1-x VO 4 laser with direct and indirect pumping

Abstract

We comparatively studied laser performance in the mixed vanadate crystals Nd:Y x Gd 1-x VO 4 with direct and indirect pumping. The maximum CW output power at 1064 nm was measured to be 6.6 W with 12 W direct 880 nm laser diode pumping, and 4.4 W with 8.8 W indirect 808 nm pumping. The optical conversion efficiency depended on the mixture ratio (x), pumping wavelength (direct or indirect), and pumping power. The hightest optical efficiency of 59% and slope efficiency of 74% were achived.