Nd:YVO4 crystals
Main features
- High absorption and gain cross-sections
- Strongly polarization dependent absorption and emission spectra (π-polarization is preferable)
- Shorter (compared with Nd:YAG) upper-state lifetime
- High optical quality and large diameter boules obtained by Czochralski growth method
- Custom crystals available upon request
Application examples
- High repetition rate Q-switched lasers for marking and engraving
- Mode-locked lasers for spectroscopy and research
- Description
- Properties
- Absorption and emission curves
- Standard specifications
Compared to Nd3+:YAG crystals, the Nd3+:YVO4 crystal has much higher absorption and emission cross-sections, a broader gain bandwidth and wavelength range for pumping, a shorter upper-state lifetime, a higher refractive index, thus it is characterized by a lower thermal conductivity. Nd:YVO4 crystals are well suited for passively mode-locked lasers with high pulse repetition rates. A drawback of Nd:YVO4 lasers are that it is impossible to achieve pulse energies as high as it is achievable with Nd:YAG lasers at Q-switched operation, due to the lower upper-state lifetime and higher gain efficiency. In conclusion, Nd:YVO4 is better suited as an active medium of high pulse repetition rate Q-switched lasers and CW lasers with a lower lasing threshold.
| Spectroscopic and thermo-mechanical properties | |
|---|---|
| Absorption peak wavelength | 808 nm |
| Absorption cross-section at peak | 5,8 × 10-19 cm2 |
| Absorption bandwidth at peak wavelength | 16 nm |
| Laser wavelength | 1064 nm |
| Lifetime of 4F3/2 neodymium energy level | 90 μs |
| Emission cross-section @1064 nm | 11,4 × 10-19 cm2 |
| Refractive index @1064 nm | n0=1,96, ne=2,17 |
| Crystal structure | Tetragonal |
| Density | 4,22 g/cm3 |
| Mohs hardness | 5 |
| Thermal conductivity | ~5 Wm-1K-1 |
| dn/dT | 3,0 × 10-6 (||c) K-1, 8,5 × 10-6 (||a) K-1 |
| Thermal expansion coefficient | 11 × 10-6 (||c) K-1, 4,4 × 10-6 (||a) K-1 |
| Typical doping level | 0,1-4 at.% |
| Nd:YVO4 crystals | |
|---|---|
| Orientation | a-cut |
| Clear aperture | >90% |
| Face dimensions tolerance | +0,0/-0,1 mm |
| Length tolerance | ±0,1 mm |
| Parallelism error | <10 arcsec |
| Perpendicularity error | <10 arcmin |
| Protective chamfers | <0,1 mm at 45˚ |
| Surface quality | 10-5 S-D |
| Surface flatness | <λ/8@632,8 nm |
| Coatings | AR(R<0,5%)@808 nm + AR(R<0,15%)@1064 nm and HT(T>95%)@ + HR(R>99,8%)@1064 nm/AR(R<0,2%)@1064 nm |
| Laser induced damage threshold | >10 J/cm2@1064nm, 10 ps |
| Mount | Unmounted |
