Neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate
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Neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) is a crystalline material formed by adding neodymium ions to yttrium orthovanadate. It is commonly used as an active laser medium for diode-pumped solid-state lasers. It comes as a transparent blue-tinted material. It is birefringent, therefore rods made of it are usually rectangular.
[edit] Basic properties
- Crystal structure:
- zircon tetragonal (tetragonal bipyramidal)
- space group D4h
- a=b=7.12, c=6.29
- Mohs hardness: Glass-like, ~5
- Thermal expansion coefficient:
- αa=4.43×10-6/K
- αc=11.37×10-6/K
- Thermal conductivity:
- parallel to C-axis: 5.23 W·m-1·K-1
- perpendicular to C-axis: 5.10 W·m-1·K-1
[edit] Optical properties
- Lasing wavelengths : 914 nm, 1064 nm, 1342 nm
- Crystal class : positive uniaxial, no=na=nb, ne=nc,
- no=1.9573, ne=2.1652, at 1064 nm
- no=1.9721, ne=2.1858, at 808 nm
- no=2.0210, ne=2.2560, at 532 nm
- Fluorescence lifetime (spontaneous emission lifetime) as a function of Nd ions concentration:
Nd concentration (atom %) | Fluorescence lifetime (μs)@ 1064nm | Reference |
0.4 | 110 | J. Appl. Phys. 49, 5517-5522 (1978). |
1.0 | 100 | Castech web site |
1.1 | 90 | Casix web site |
2.0 | 50 | Casix web site |
- Absorption cross-section at 808nm : 5.5×10-20 cm²
- Emission cross-section at 1064nm : 38×10-19 cm² (Reference: JOSA 66, 1405-1414 (1976).)
- Polarized laser emission : π-polarization; parallel to optic axis (c-axis) (for a-cut crystal)
- Gain bandwidth : 0.96 nm (257 GHz) at 1064 nm (for 1.1 atm% Nd doped)
[edit] See also
- Yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG)