Comparative study on the spectroscopic properties of Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ and Nd:YVO/sub 4/ with hybrid process

We have proposed a hybrid procedure for determining spectroscopic parameters for uniaxial solid-state laser crystals. Using our procedure, the spectroscopic properties of Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ were evaluated and compared to those of Nd:YVO/sub 4/. As a result, the peaks of absorption and stimulated emission cross sections of Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ in /spl pi/-polarization were determined to be 2.6 and 10.3/spl times/10/sup -19/ cm/sup 2/, respectively, and were smaller than those of Nd:YVO/sub 4/. On the other hand, the fluorescence lifetime of 1 at% Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ was evaluated to be 83.4 /spl mu/s, and was similar to 84.1 /spl mu/s of 1 at% Nd:YVO/sub 4/. Therefore, the product of stimulated emission cross section and fluorescence lifetime (/spl sigma//sub em//spl tau//sub f/ product) of Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ was smaller than that of Nd:YVO/sub 4/ under 1 at% of Nd/sup 3+/ doping concentration. The radiative lifetime of spontaneous emission of Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ was 168 /spl mu/s and was 1.9 times longer than that of Nd:YVO/sub 4/. Because of the low value of radiative quantum efficiency of Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ (50%), careful cavity design is required for creating a well performing solid-state laser with Nd:GdVO/sub 4/, based on the larger /spl sigma//sub em//spl tau//sub f/ product rather than the /spl sigma//sub em//spl tau//sub f/ product of Nd:YAG.