Growth and laser operation of Yb-doped mixed vanadate crystals

Three mixed YbtYxLu1−t−xVO4 crystals, with x=0.923, 0.848 and 0.708, were grown by the Czochralski method. Polarized absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra were studied at room temperature. The absorption cross sections at 985 nm are 5.46×10−20 cm2, 5.70×10−20 cm2, and 5.97×10−20 cm2, respectively, for π polarization. The broadest bandwidth of the absorption spectrum reaches up to 38.22 nm for σ polarization. Fluorescence lifetimes are almost the same (0.331 ms, 0.327 ms and 0.329 ms). CW laser operation was achieved at room temperature with a maximum output power of 1.19 W at a pump power of 8.8 W.