Analysis of a laser-diode end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO4 laser with V3+:YAG saturable absorber

By considering both the transversal and longitudinal Gaussian spatial distribution of the intracavity photon density, a couple of rate equations describing a laser-diode end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO₄ laser with V³⁺:YAG saturable absorber have been proposed. Solving these space-dependent rate equations numerically, we obtain the dependences of pulse width, pulse repetition rate, single-pulse energy and peak power on pump power. In the experiment, a laser-diode end-pumped Nd:GdVO₄ laser passively Q-switched by a V³⁺:YAG saturable absorber has been realized, and the experimental results are consistent with the theoretical calculations.