Semianalytical thermal analysis of thermal focal length on Nd:YAG rods

Based on the theory of semianalytical thermal analysis, the temperature field and thermal lens effects within a diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG rods were investigated. A general expression of the temperature field within Nd:YAG rods was obtained through the analysis of a diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG rod, using what we believe to be a new method to solve a heat conduction equation of isotropic material. Calculating the thermal focal length within the diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG rods was done by an analysis of the additional optical path differences caused by heat, which was in good agreement with experimental results. These results show that the maximum temperature on the pump face of Nd:YAG rods is 51.9 degrees C and the thermal focal length is 22.4 cm when the output power of the diode laser is 10 W. Under the same conditions, the experimental value of the thermal focal length is 21.0 cm. The difference between the theoretical analysis and the experimental result is only 6.7%. Results from this work can provide the theoretical basis for the optimized design of diode-end-pumped all-solid-state lasers.     

Passively Q-switched Nd:YVO(4) laser with a Cr(4+):YAG crystal saturable absorber

We demonstrate, for the first time as far as we know, a passively Q-switched operation of a Nd:YVO(4) laser in which a Cr(4+):YAG crystal and a laser-diode bar are used as the saturable absorber and the pump source, respectively. Stable laser pulses as short as 28 ns with 20-muJ energy can be generated with this laser, which has the advantages of simplicity, high efficiency, and good long-term stability.     

Transverse-mode astigmatism in a diode-pumped unstable resonator Nd:YVO(4) laser

We have observed a sizable astigmatism in the output beam from a diode-pumped unstable resonator Nd:YVO(4) laser operating in a single polarization and a single-longitudinal and transverse mode. The anisotropic index of refraction of the vanadate crystal has been identified as the source of this astigmatism. A theoretical prediction of the eigenmode astigmatism based on this index anisotropy is consistent with our experimental measurements.     

Efficient cw end-pumped, end-cooled Nd:YVO(4) diode-pumped laser

Using a novel end-pumped, end-cooled geometry, we demonstrated a Nd:YVO(4) cw laser that produces close to 2 W of single-mode output when pumped by a high-brightness 100-mum-core diode fiber source. An optical-optical conversion efficiency of 49% was obtained. Beam quality was found to be nearly diffraction-limited (M(2) = 1.08) and independent of pumping power.     

Periodic pulse oscillation in an intracavity-doubled Nd:YVO(4) laser

We report periodic pulse oscillation in an intracavity-doubled Nd:YVO(4) laser. The pulse oscillation is caused by alternate oscillation between two modes. We investigated improvement of green-light power with the pulse oscillation in a Nd:YVO(4) laser. The pulse oscillation gave a factor of approximately 2 higher average green-light power than that for cw oscillation at the same pumping power.     

Near shot-noise-level relative frequency stabilization of a laser-diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) microchip laser

A laser-diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) microchip laser was built and actively frequency stabilized relative to a Fabry-Perot cavity with the frequency-modulated sideband technique. The error signal reaches the shot-noise level of 7.4 mHz/√Hz around 1 kHz. Excess intensity noise sets a lower limit of16.5 mHz/√Hz for the relative frequency noise, corresponding to a spectral linewidth of 860 μHz. We discuss the method for reconstructing the actual frequency deviation from the observed error signal.     

Study of the mechanical properties of Nd:YVO4 crystal by use of laser interferometry and finite-element analysis

A hybrid method that combines experimental and numerical approaches for determining the material properties of Nd:YVO(4) is reported. In the experimental investigations a laser interferometer is proposed for measuring the physical deformation of lasing materials at the end-pump surface. By matching with the measured end bulging, we have implemented a numerical solution with finite-element analyses to determine the Poisson ratio and Young's modulus of the crystal. The accuracy interval of the evaluated Poisson ratio of 0.33 and Young's modulus of 133 GPa is discussed numerically. Based on the mechanical properties obtained, the end effect is separated from thermal effects, and it shows that the end effect results in an approximate equal thermal lensing effect compared with the index parts for end-pumped Nd:YVO(4) lasers.     

Polarization effects in a KGd(WO4)2:Nd crystal

Data are presented that demonstrate that, when a laser beam polarized at 45° to the vertical (horizontal) is passed through plane-parallel plates cut from a Nd-doped (4%) potassium gadolinium tungstate crystal and placed between crossed polarizers, the intensity and polarization of the transmitted light are periodic functions of the angle of incidence of the light. When scanned in two mutually perpendicular directions, the plates exhibit highly anisotropic transmission. The polarization at the intensity minima and maxima at the analyzer output is not orthogonal, in contrast to uniaxial crystals.     

Interfacial properties of a direct bonded Nd-doped YVO4 and YVO4 single crystal

Laser crystal bonding of a neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd : YVO₄) and a non-doped yttrium orthovanadate (YVO₄) crystal as a cold finger has been demonstrated. Instead of a traditional chemical treatment, a newly developed dry etching process was applied to the preparation for contact of mechanically polished surfaces. In the subsequent heat treatment process, stable heating at 873 K was required to prevent precipitation at the bonded interface. The bonded interface of 3 mm×3 mm was investigated by optical scattering and wavefront distortion measurements. The scattering density around the bonded interface was less than 4.6×10⁶/cm³ and the wavefront distortion caused by the bonded region was assumed to be around 0.04 at 633 nm. Additional magnified inspection showed that atoms in the bonded region were well arranged with the same regularity as the bulk crystal. The diffusion coefficient of Nd³⁺ ions in the YVO₄ crystal was estimated at 2.3×10^–23 m²/s at 873 K.     

Intracavity frequency doubling and Q switching in diode-laser-pumped Nd:YVO(4) lasers

A highly efficient and compact Nd:YVO(4) laser is proposed. In cw operation, a single-longitudinal-mode output of 95 mW and a multilongitudinal-mode output of 435 mW have been observed at 1.06 μm with a 1-W diode laser. Using a KTP crystal in the short laser cavity, a green output of 105 mW was generated. A Q-switched pulse with a peak power of 230 W and a pulse width of 8 ns was obtained with the intracavity KTP crystal, which was used as both an electro-optic Q switch and a frequency doubler.     

Single-frequency, thin-film-tuned, 0.6-W, diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) laser

Application of a metallic thin-film selector to the single-frequency oscillation of a diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) laser has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. We show that a chromium thin-film selector with a thickness between 8 and 9 nm provides single-frequency output within a power range of 0.6 W. Single-frequency operation, slow smooth tuning, or chirping was realized by the output coupler movement with a piezoceramic transducer. Chirping at a repetition rate of 0.5 kHz in the 0.5-10-GHz range was achieved. Physical and technical limitations caused by the wide-gain bandwidth, thermal effects, and mechanical vibrations of cavity elements are discussed.     

Passively Q-switched multi-wavelength Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser

Abstract

Multi-wavelength self-Raman laser from a passively Q-switched c-cut Nd: YVO₄ laser at 1066.8 nm to four discrete Stokes lines at 1097.2, 1129.2, 1168.3 and 1178.8 nm is demonstrated simultaneously for the first time. With a 0.27 at% c-cut Nd:YVO₄ crystal, the total output power of Stokes lines is 267 mW at a pump power of 5.0 W.     

Single-Mode Operation and Frequency Doubling of Fiber-Coupled Diode Butt-Coupling-Pumped Nd:YVO(4) Lasers

We present a simple way to achieve single-frequency operation by using a fiber-coupled diode butt-coupling-pumped Nd:YVO(4) laser in a flat-flat cavity. Single-mode outputs of 620 and 260 mW for fundamental and second-harmonic wavelengths were obtained when the laser was pumped by an 1100-mW fiber-coupled laser diode. Experimental results show that thermal effects provide not only a stable resonator with a good overlap of laser mode and pump size but also enhance single-frequency performance.     

Simultaneous Mode Locking in a Diode-Pumped Passively Q-Switched Nd:YVO(4) Laser with a GaAs Saturable Absorber

Simultaneous mode locking and Q switching is accomplished in a diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4)/GaAs laser. The average output power is ~2.0 W at 10.6-W absorbed pump power, and the repetition rate of the Q-switched pulse is ~120 kHz. The mode-locked pulse inside the Q-switched pulse has a repetition rate of ~148 MHz, and its average duration is estimated to be ~100 ps.     

Noise characteristics of a Nd:YVO(4) laser pumped by laser diode modulated at high frequency

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, on the noise characteristics of a Nd:YVO(4) laser pumped by a laser diode modulated at high frequency. We have investigated noise characteristics of a Nd:YVO(4) laser pumped by a laser diode that is oscillating in a stable multilongitudinal mode because of modulation by a high-frequency (several hundred megahertz) current. As a result, low-noise operations of -130 dB/Hz above frequencies of 1 MHz have been achieved. This noise level is comparable to the level obtained when pumping a Nd:YVO(4) laser with a laser diode that is oscillating in a single longitudinal mode. However, a noise peak corresponding to relaxation oscillations of the Nd:YVO(4) laser has appeared around a frequency of several hundred kilohertz.     

Comparison on performance of passively Q-switched laser properties of continuous-grown composite GdVO4/Nd:GdVO4 and YVO4/Nd:YVO4 crystals under direct pumping

The comparison on performance of passively Q-switched laser properties of continuous-grown composite GdVO(4)/Nd:GdVO(4) and YVO(4)/Nd:YVO(4) crystals under direct pumping to the emitting level was demonstrated. A Cr(4+):YAG crystal was used as saturable absorber. At an incident pump power of 10 W, the average output power, the pulse width, the repetition rate, the pulse energy, and the peak power for a GdVO(4)/Nd:GdVO(4) laser were 1.22 W, 48.1 ns, 121 kHz, 10.1 μJ, and 209.6 W, respectively. And for a YVO(4)/Nd:YVO(4) laser under the same conditions, these output characteristics were 1.26 W, 44.9 ns, 218 kHz, 5.8 μJ, and 128.7 W, respectively.     

Double-end-pumped Nd:YVO4 slab laser at 1064 nm

We demonstrate a high-power laser diode stacks double-end-pumped Nd:YVO4 1064 nm slab laser with a folded stable-unstable hybrid resonator. An output power of 220 W was obtained at the pump power of 490 W with optical conversion efficiency of 44.9%. At the output power of 202 W, the M2 factors in the unstable direction and in the stable direction were 1.7 and 2.3, respectively.     

High-repetition rate Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with a composite semiconductor absorber

A diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser passively Q switched by a semiconductor absorber is demonstrated. The Q-switched operation of the laser has an average output power of 135 mW with a 1.6 W incident pump power. The minimum pulse width is measured to be about 8.3 ns with a repetition rate of 2 MHz. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a solid-state laser passively Q-switched by such a composite semiconductor absorber.     

抽运条件对Nd:YVO4增益开关激光器输出特性的影响

通过数值求解增益开关速率方程,模拟得到Nd:YVO4增益开关激光器输出脉宽和峰值功率随抽运条件的理论变化曲线,在此基础上提出了减小增益开关固体激光器输出脉宽的方法,即:令抽运源LD的直流驱动电流接近阈值,叠加脉冲电流高于2倍阈值,并调节抽运脉宽保证单脉冲激光输出。实验结果与理论曲线符合较好,证实了这一方法的有效性。利用此方法最终获得了脉宽20ns、重复频率在1Hz-4kHz精确可控的1.064μm脉冲激光输出。     

Spectral parameters of Nd3+ ion in Nd:KLa(WO4)2 crystal

The spectral parameters of Nd³⁺ ions in Nd:KLa(WO₄)₂ crystal have been investigated based on Judd-Ofelt theory. The spectral parameters were obtained: the parameters of oscillator strengths are Ω₂=3.0887×10^–20 cm², Ω₄=1.0375×10^–20 cm², Ω₆=1.0422×10^–20 cm², the radiative lifetime is 685 μs, the quantum efficiency is 30.7%, and the fluorescence branch ratios were calculated: β₁=0.432, β₂=0.475, β₃=0.089, β₄=0.004. Electronic Publication