Highly efficient Nd:Gd0.6Y0.4VO4 laser by direct in-band pumping at 914 nm and observation of self-mode-locked operation

A highly efficient Nd:Gd_0.6Y_0.4VO₄ laser by direct in-band pumping at 914?nm is demonstrated for the first time. With an absorbed power of 3.7?W, a maximum output power of 2.65?W at 1064?nm was obtained, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 72%. We also experimentally observed that the laser system could be efficiently operated in the self-mode-locked state in the range of 0.9?C3.3?GHz. The pulse width was measured to be 16 ps at a repetition rate of 1.75?GHz.