Optical spectroscopy and laser oscillation in a high-power laser material: Yb:GdVO4

Yb:GdVO4 laser crystals were elaborated by the Czochralski process. Thermal conductivity value was measured by photothermal analysis and reaches 8.1 and 7.1 W.m-1.K-1 along and perpendicular to the c-axis respectively. Optical spectroscopy is presented. cw laser oscillation is obtained for the first time in this material under titanium sapphire pumping at 984 nm. 420 mW were obtained for a 2% output coupler at 1029 nm. The laser wavelength can decrease to 1015 nm in thinner sample. In this case, the quantum defect is limited to 2.9 %. Thus, a new figure of merit taking into account the quantum defect is proposed. The small amount of heat release in the material gives good expectation for high power applications.

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