High-Power Diode-Pumped 914 nm Nd:YVO4 Laser

Abstract

Nd:YVO4 is widely used as a diode-pumped gain crystal because of its strong absorption near 808 nm and large stimulated emission cross section.

Operation at 914 nm is especially attractive where shorter-wavelength conversion chains are desired, because it can support visible and ultraviolet generation after subsequent nonlinear conversion.

The 914 nm line also benefits from the compactness and polarization properties of vanadate-based resonators.

Performance characteristics

A high-power diode-pumped 914 nm Nd:YVO4 layout demonstrates that the vanadate host can sustain efficient operation away from the more common 1064 nm transition.

The short cavity, high gain, and linear polarization of Nd:YVO4 make it well suited for narrow-line and high-brightness designs.

This kind of resonator is useful when the application values compact packaging and efficient frequency conversion.

Application value

914 nm Nd:YVO4 lasers are attractive pump or seed candidates for blue and ultraviolet conversion systems.

They are also useful in precision optics modules that need a compact linearly polarized solid-state source.