Optimized vanadate laser performance at variation of crystal´s lengths

The main criteria of a laser system design nowadays are its compactness and high energy efficiency. Both of these criteria can be fulfilled with a diode end pumped solid state laser. In term of the laser crystal, Nd:YVO₄ is more attractive to be used in a compact system due to its absorption cross-section is 4 times larger than commonly used Nd:YAG [1]. However, it is crucial to determine optimum length of the crystal required in an end-pumped system because longer crystal cost more and has a higher loss. Wang et al [2] had reported that 2 at % 2 mm Nd:YVO₄ crystal was best specification which has advantage of economy, high efficiency and low threshold power when they compared Nd:YVO₄ samples with various doping and lengths. In this report, we had compared performance of Nd:YVO₄ crystals which has length of 1 mm, 3 mm and 10 mm. All the Nd:YVO₄ crystals used in this study has 1 at % of Neodymium doping in it.