Passively Q-switched laser operation in a composite Nd:YVO4/Nd:YVO4/Nd:YVO4 crystal with a GaAs saturable absorber

By using a piece of GaAs wafer as the saturable absorber, the performance of the passively Q-switched composite Nd:YVO₄ laser with different output couplers has been demonstrated for the first time as far as we know. The largest continuous wave output power of 1.52 W is obtained at the incident pump power of 5.31 W, giving an optical conversion efficiency of 28.7% and a slope efficiency of 30.2%. The shortest pulse width of 11 ns, the largest single-pulse energy of 2.49 μJ and the highest peak power of 190 W are also obtained.     

Efficient and compact intracavity-frequency-doubled YVO4/Nd:YVO4/KTP laser through analysis of the interaction length

In this paper, a stable end-pumped intracavity-frequency-doubled green laser was demonstrated. The interaction length of different pump systems before setting up the experiment was analyzed in order to find out an effective pump system. The experimental results indicate that the pump system in our configuration is beneficial to the efficient CW Nd lasers. A continue-grown composite crystal YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄, with Nd³⁺ concentration doping of 0.3 at.%, is used as laser medium. With an incident pump power of 27.5 W, as high as 7.2 W of CW output power at 532 nm was achieved. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 26.2% was obtained in CW modes with a flat-flat cavity design.     

Diode-pumped doubly Q-switched mode-locked YVO4/Nd:YVO4 laser with AO and GaAs saturable absorber

By using both acousto-optic (AO) modulator and GaAs saturable absorber, a diode-pumped doubly Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ laser is presented. The average output power and the pulse width of the Q-switched envelope have been measured. The Q-switch pulse energy of the doubly QML laser are higher than that only with GaAs. The stability of the QML laser with the dual-loss-modulation is significantly improved if compared to that only with GaAs.The experimental results show that the doubly QML YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ laser has nearly 80% modulation depth and deeper than that of the singly passively QML pulse. The doubly Q-switched mode-locked pulse inside the Q-switched envelope has a repetition rate of 111 MHz and its pulse width is estimated to be about 700 ps. By using a hyperbolic secant square function and considering the Gaussian distribution of the intracavity photon density, the coupled equations for diode-pumped dual-loss-modulated QML laser is given and the numerical solutions of the equations are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Compact and efficient Kerr-lens mode-locked diode-pumped actively Q-switched YVO4-Nd:YVO4 laser

By using a simple linear configuration, a stable and efficient YVO₄-Nd:YVO₄ laser, actively Q-switched by an acousto-optic modulator and passively mode-locked by KLM is realized, from which the great average output power, the high efficiency are obtained and the mode-locked pulse inside the Q-switched pulse has a repetition rate of 470 MHz. The nearly 100% modulation depth of the Q-switched mode-locked pulses can be obtained at any pump power over the threshold. Considering the Kerr-lens effect of laser medium and Q-switching by an acousto-optic modulator, we have analyzed the self-mode-locked YVO₄-Nd:YVO₄ laser by using the nonlinear ABCD propagation matrix and the hyperbolic fluctuation mechanism. The numerical solutions are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Theoretical analysis and experimental research on thermal focal length of a YVO4/Nd:YVO4 composite crystal

This paper investigates the temperature field distribution and thermal focal length within a laser diode array (LDA) end-pumped YVO4/Nd:YVO4 rectangular composite crystal. A general expression of the temperature field distribution within the Nd:YVO4 rectangular crystal was obtained by analysing the characteristics of the Nd:YVO4 crystal and solving the Poisson equation with boundary conditions. The temperature field distributions in the Nd:YVO4 rectangular crystal for the YVO4/Nd:YVO4 composite crystal and the Nd:YVO4 single crystal are researched respec- tively. Calculating the thermal focal length within the Nd:YVO4 rectangular crystal was done by an analysis of the additional optical path differences (OPD) caused by heat, which was very identical with experimental results in this paper. Research results show that the maximum relative temperature on the rear face of the Nd:YVO4 crystal in the composite crystal is 150 K and the thermal focal length is 35.7 mm when the output power of the LDA is 22 W. In the same circumstances, the experimental value of the thermal focal length is 37.4 mm. So the relative error between the theoretical analysis and the experimental result is only 4.5%. With the same conditions, the thermal focal length of the Nd:YVO4 single crystal is 18.5 mm. So the relative rate of the thermal focal length between the YVO4/Nd:YVO4 crystal and the Nd:YVO4 crystal is 93%. So, the thermal stability of the output power and the beam quality of the YVO4/Nd:YVO4 laser is more advantageous than the laser with Nd:YVO4 single crystal.     

Study of YVO4 by appearance potential spectroscopy

The luminescent orthovanadate compound YVO₄ has been studied by soft X-ray Appearance Potential Spectroscopy. Vanadium L_2.3 APS spectra, which give information about unoccupied electron states, have been interpreted in conjunction with existing experimental data on soft X-ray emission and with cluster model calculations. The main features of the APS spectrum of vanadium in YVO₄ as compared with the APS spectrum of pure vanadium metal are discussed, as well as the extent to which the vanadium L_2.3 APS-signal in YVO₄ can be explained by the energy level diagram given by a non-self-consistent calculation in a VO₄³⁻ cluster model.     

Absorption coefficients of an undoped YVO4 crystal

In this paper, the absorption coefficients α_o (for ordinary ray) and α_e (for extraordinary ray) of an undoped YVO₄ crystal were calculated by measuring the transmissivities and refractive indices. The mean values 0.00549 cm⁻¹ of α_o measured by unpolarized light, and 0.00432 cm⁻¹ of α_o and 0.00420 cm⁻¹ of α_e measured by linear polarized light were reported, respectively. The corresponding absorption curves were given. The discussions about the errors were made. This work is available to evaluate quantificationally the quality of undoped YVO₄ crystal and provides the significant data of absorption coefficient for its applications.     

Investigation of Nd:YVO4/YVO4 composite crystal and its laser performance pumped by a fiber coupled diode laser

Thermal effect control is critical to scale the output power of diode end-pumping solid lasers to several watts up and beyond. Diffusion bonding crystal has been demonstrated to be an effective method to relieve the thermal lens for the end-pumping laser crystal. The temperature distribution and thermal lens in Nd:YVO₄/YVO₄ composite crystal was numerically analyzed and compared with that of Nd:YVO4 crystal in this paper. The end-pumping Nd:YVO₄/YVO₄ composite crystal laser was set up and tested with z cavity. The maximum output power of 9.87 W at 1064 nm and 6.14 W at 532 nm were obtained at the pumping power of 16.5 W. The highest optical-optical conversion efficiencies were up to 60% at 1064 nm and 40% at 532 nm, respectively.     

LD泵浦的高效率YVO4/LBO红光激光器

报道了用国产LD泵浦Nd∶YVO4产生的1.342μm的输出.首次用Ⅱ类临界位相匹配LBO腔内倍频实现了671nm的红激光输出.当泵浦注入功率为800mW时,倍频红激光基模输出为52mW,光光转换效率达6.5%.光束经扩束准直后测得偏振比高于100∶1.在输出功率为40mW时,48h连续工作稳定性优于±2%.     

掺Tm钒酸钇的光学性能

钒酸钇(YVO₄)晶体有高的激光损伤阈值和高的激光输出斜率效率,也有很好的机械性能和化学稳定性.从测量Tm:YVO₄晶体的吸收谱入手,考虑该晶体的各向异性效应,拟合出Tm³⁺的光学强度参量,进一步得到了振子强度f,辐射跃迁速率A和积分发射截面Σ等光学参量.在350—2500nm范围内,YVO₄晶体基质的吸收很小,而Tm³⁺在YVO₄晶体中发光能力很强;特有的是蓝光¹     

High-efficiency longitudinally-pumped miniature Nd:YVO4 laser

We report on fundamental and intracavity frequency-doubled emission in a miniature Nd:YVO₄ (3×3×1 mm) laser. A maximum slope efficiency of η_s=58.6%, with optical efficiency of η₀=53.0% at 780 mW pump power was realized in a TEM₀₀ output beam. To obtain the optimum pump-beam focusing conditions we applied a new formalism in which the pump-beam propagation in the active medium was described by its M² factor. A good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results was observed. In second-harmonic regime, obtained by a KTP crystal, 230 mW green power that corresponds to 54% nonlinear conversion efficiency was reached.     

纳秒电光调Q Nd:YVO4激光器

介绍了一种新颖的短腔电光调Q窄脉宽激光器,通过分析影响脉宽的主要因素,确定了激光器的结构及参数。在准连续端面泵浦条件下,采用掺杂原子分数为1.0%、沿a轴切成布儒斯特角的Nd:YVO4晶体作为增益介质,直接获得偏振光振荡,有效缩短了腔长。在物理腔长20 mm时,采用退压式电光主动调Q结构,减小了插入损耗,获得了脉冲宽度为1.049 ns、单脉冲能量为0.32 mJ、光束质量平方因子为1.9的稳定激光输出。     

Photoluminescence of colloidal YVO4:Eu/SiO2 core/shell nanocrystals

YVO₄:Eu, and YVO₄:Eu/SiO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by hydrothermal method with citrate as capping ligands. Their morphologies, structures, components, and photoluminescence properties were investigated and presented in this paper. A remarkable fluorescence enhancement up to 2.17 times was observed in colloidal YVO₄:Eu/SiO₂ NCs, compared to that of colloidal YVO₄:Eu NCs. This is mainly attributed to the formation of the outer protecting layers of biocompatible SiO₂ shells; which shield the Eu³⁺ ions effectively from water and thus reduces the deleterious effects of water on the luminescence. Meanwhile, on the basis of laser selective excitation, two kinds of luminescent centers were confirmed in the NCs, namely, inner Eu³⁺ ions and surface Eu³⁺ ions. The surface modifications for YVO₄:Eu NCs effectively reduced the surface defects and accordingly enhanced the luminescence. The core/shell NCs exhibited long fluorescence lifetime and high photostability under ultraviolet radiation.     

Analysis of the ground configuration of Tm3+ in YVO4

An analysis has been made of the optical spectrum of Tm³⁺ in YVO₄ reported by K. D. Knoll. The approach taken was to describe the Tm³⁺ free ion as completely as possible and then to describe the effects of the crystal field on these levels. Parameters were obtained that gave an r.m.s. deviatioa of 10.6 cm^?1 in a least squares fit. In Knolls' earlier analysis, which did not describe the free ion adequately, several sets of parameters were given that are consistent with different portions of the spectrum. The results computed with our parameters gave a new interpretation of the ³F₄ and ³H₅ multiplets and gave g_∥ factors in good agreement with the measurements. The efiects of the hyperfine interaction and the spin-crystal field interaction on the energy levels resulted in displacements of smaller than 0.1 cm^?1.     

The acousto-optic Q-switched mode-locking Nd:YVO4 laser

Q-switched mode locking (QML) has been observed in acousto-optic Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser that contained no mode-locking components. It was found that QML was easily realized in a long cavity and the modulation depth was observed to increase with increased cavity length. The maximum modulation depth was as high as 90%. This phenomenon is explained by the introduction of gain-related effect in the gain medium. The longitudinal modes at higher frequency, than the central frequency of the gain profile, experience positive guiding, which results in mode locking of these modes.     

An interpretation of the g factors for the tetragonally-compressed Cr centers in YVO4 and YPO4 crystals

The g factors g_∥ and g_⊥ for the tetragonally-compressed (CrO₄)³⁻ clusters in YMO₄ (M=V, P) crystals are calculated from the high-order perturbation formulas based on the two-mechanism model for the compressed d¹ tetrahedra with the ground state |d_z²〉. From the calculated values and by considering a small admixture of the first excited state |d_x²−y²〉 to the ground state |d_z²〉 due to the vibrational motion of ligands (which leads a twinkling compressed tetrahedron to become an elongated one), the observed g_∥ and g_⊥ for Cr⁵⁺ centers in YMO₄ crystals are explained reasonably. The difficulty of the large deviations of g_∥ from g_e (≈2.0023) in the two systems is therefore removed and the above dynamic effect may be the cause which results in the large deviation of g_∥ from g_e for some (CrO₄)³⁻ clusters in crystals.     

Passively mode-locked grown-together composite YVO4 /Nd:YVO4 crystal laser with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror under 880-nm direct pumping

A passively mode-locked grown-together composite YVO 4 /Nd:YVO 4 crystal laser is demonstrated with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror by 880-nm laser-diode direct pumping.Under the absorbed pump power of 24.9 W,a maximum output power of 10.5 W at the repetition rate of 77 MHz is obtained,corresponding to the optical-optical conversion efficiency of 42.1% and the slope efficiency of 53.4%.The pulse width measured is 33 ps at the output power of 10 W.     

Thermal effects of the diode end-pumped Nd:YVO4 slab

The thermal effects of the diode end-pumped Nd:YVO₄ slab laser crystal are investigated both analytically and numerically. The theoretical model is established with considering the divergence of the pump beam in the slab. A detailed theoretical analysis of the temperature, stress and the focal length of thermal lens are presented. Using 3D finite element analysis, an accurate numerical solution based on the theoretical model is achieved. Our analysis includes the thermal fracture damage of the thermally and optically anisotropic slab and the predicated values are compared with the experimental results.     

High power diode single-end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser

A fiber-coupled diode-single-end-pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser with an Nd:YVO₄ crystal of 0.3 at% doping concentration and 3×3×10 mm³ dimensions was reported. 14.850 W of continuous-wave output power in an M² factor of 1.12 was obtained under pump power of 27.365 W, with an optical conversion efficiency of 60.49%, and a slope efficiency of 64.5%.     

全固态单纵模脉冲Nd:YVO_4环形激光器

设计并研制了全固态调Q脉冲单纵模Nd:YVO4环形激光器。利用880nm激光二极管端面抽运Nd:YVO4晶体,通过四镜环形谐振腔中插入声光调Q晶体、标准具,并优化激光谐振腔的结构,获得了重复频率为200Hz、脉宽为26.6ns的单纵模脉冲1.064μm激光输出。当泵浦功率为15 W时,单纵模激光输出的单脉冲能量为570μJ、脉冲能量稳定性优于3%。