A comprehensive study of Nd:YAG, Nd:YAlO3, Nd:YVO4 and Nd:YGdVO4 lasers operating at wavelengths of 0.9 and 1.3 μm. Part 1: cw-operation

This paper reports on efficient generation of cw laser radiation at 0.9 and 1.3 μm in different neodymium doped laser hosts. The thermal, mechanical and optical properties as well as the laser performance of Nd:YAG, Nd:YAlO3, Nd:YVO4 and Nd:GdVO4 are studied in numerical simulations as well as in experimental investigations. For example an output power of more than 4.0 W is generated in Nd:YVO4 at the 914 nm 4F3/2→4I9/2 transition using a pump power of 19 W. In Nd:GdVO4 more than 6.0 W are obtained at the 1342 nm 4F3/2→4I13/2 laser transition by using a pump power of 19.3 W. The spatial beam quality of both lasers is diffraction limited with an M2 value of less than 1.1.