Passive Q-Switching Laser Performance of Yb：YVO4 Crystal

The tetragonal crystal of yttrium orthovanadate, YV04, has become the most important host material for the neodymium （Nd） ion, and Nd：YV04 has found wide applications in compact diode pumped solid- state lasers generating low-to-mediate powers. Due to their similarity in chemical properties as well as in electronic configurations, other trivalent lanthanide rare-earth ions can also be incorporated into the crys- tal of YV04, occupying the lattice sites for the Y ions. As a result, VV04 crystal can also serve as the host medium for other rare-earth laser ions including Yb, Er, Tm, and Ho.