Characteristics of Nd:GdVO₄ 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 0.2at.% Nd-doped Nd:GdVO₄ laser, 1.54W output
laser power is achieved at 912nm wavelength with a slope efficiency of 24.8% at an absorbed pump power of 9.4W. With 0.3at.% Nd-doping concentration, we can obtain the either single-wavelength emission at 1064nm or 912nm or the dual-wavelength emission at 1064nm and 912nm by controlling the incident pump power. From an incident pump power of 11.6W, the 1064nm emission between ⁴F_3/2 and ⁴I_11/2 is suppressed completely by the 912nm emission between ⁴F_3/2 and ⁴I_9/2. We obtain 670mW output of the 912nm single-wavelength laser emission with a slope efficiency of 5.5% by taking an incident pump power of 18.4W. Using a Nd:GdVO₄ laser with 0.4at.% Nd-doping concentration, we obtain either the single-wavelength emission at 1064nm or the dual-wavelength emission at both 1064nm and 912nm by increasing the incident pump power. We observe a strong competition process in the dual-wavelength laser.