Characteristics of Nd:GdVO 4 Laser with Different Nd-Doping Concentrations

We report the properties of a compact diode-pumped continuous-wave Nd:GdVO4 laser with a linear cavity and different Nd-doped laser crystals. In a 0.2 at.% Nd-doped Nd:GdVO4 laser, 1.54 W output laser power is achieved at 912 nm wavelength with a slope efficiency of 24.8% at an absorbed pump power of 9.4 W. With 0.3 at.% Nd-doping concentration, we can obtain the either single-wavelength emission at 1064 nm or 912 nm or the dual-wavelength emission at 1064 nm and 912 nm by controlling the incident pump power. From an incident pump power of 11.6 W, the 1064 nm emission between 4F3/2 and 4I11/2 is suppressed completely by the 912 nm emission between 4F3/2 and 4I9/2. We obtain 670 mW output of the 912 nm single-wavelength laser emission with a slope efficiency of 5.5% by taking an incident pump power of 18.4 W. Using a Nd:GdVO4 laser with 0.4 at.% Nd-doping concentration, we obtain either the single-wavelength emission at 1064 nm or the dual-wavelength emission at both 1064 nm and 912 nm by increasing the incident pump power. We observe a strong competition process in the dual-wavelength laser.