Thermal conductivity and refractive indices of Nd:GdVO4 crystals

The thermal conductivities of Nd:YAG, M(Y,Gd)VO4 crystals were measured at 298 K. The value of Nd:GdVO4 crystal along direction was 11.4 W/mK, which was higher than that of YAG crystal measured to be 10.7 W/mK. The principal refractive indices of Nd:GdVO4 crystal in the temperature range from 20 °C to 170 °C were determined by auto-collimation method. Based on the measured values of refractive indices, the Sellmeier equation and expression of temperature dependence of refractive indices have been obtained. The measured results show that the birefringence Δn is 0.22007 at 20 °C and temperature coefficient of birefringence is 4.33 × 10−6/°C for 1.064 μm. These results prove that the GdVO4 crystal is a laser crystal with excellent thermal and birefringence properties. (© 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)