Open AccessGrowth and characterization of self-Q-switched Nd:Cr:YVO_4 crystal
Author(s) -
Zhongben Pan,
Bin Yao,
Haohai Yu,
Honghao Xu,
Z. P. Wang,
J. Y. Wang,
H. J. Zhang
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.002178
Subject(s) - materials science , ion , optics , laser , absorption spectroscopy , crystal (programming language) , annealing (glass) , absorption (acoustics) , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography , computer science , composite material , programming language
A Nd:Cr:YVO4 crystal was grown by the Czochralski method for the first time to our knowledge. Its structure and cell parameter have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis. Polarized absorption spectra were measured at room temperature, which showed that the absorption bands display polarization character and an absorption band of Cr5+ ions at 1110 nm enables the crystal to be a self-Q-switched laser material. We also found that the absorption of Cr5+ ions became much larger and its self-Q-switched laser performance became much better when the Nd:Cr:YVO4 crystal was annealed because the annealing induces more Cr ions to become those with + 5 valence. In the self-Q-switched laser, the maximum output power, shortest pulse width, and largest pulse energy were obtained to be 120 mW, 85.8 ns, and 0.79 μJ, respectively.