Thulium-doped vanadate crystals: Growth, spectroscopy and laser performance

This work is concentrated on growth, spectroscopy and laser performance of thulium-doped vanadate crystals. At the beginning the growth techniques are analyzed and then the matrix of vanadates crystal, its structure and physicochemical properties are explained together with the rare earth activators influence. Detailed spectroscopy of the thulium-doped vanadate crystals then follows. On the background of this theoretical analysis and state of the art of the subject the description of thulium vanadate lasers (especially Tm:YVO4, Tm:GdVO4, and Tm:LuVO4) together with their generated output radiation characteristics are presented.