1.34 μm fluorescence and laser properties of Nd:La0.11Y0.89VO4 crystal

For Nd:LaxY1−xVO4 (x = 0.11) crystal, the 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 transition property was investigated for the first time. The fluorescence peak of Nd:La0.11Y0.89VO4 crystal exhibited obvious inhomogeneous broadening comparing with that of Nd:YVO4 crystal. With laser diode array as pump source, 1.34 μm continuous-wave (CW) and active Q-switched laser operations based on 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 transition were realized. For CW laser operation, the maximum output power of 2.47, 2.13 W is obtained with slope efficiencies of 29.4%, 27.6%, and optical to optical conversion efficiency of 26.2%, 24.7%, respectively for a, c cut crystal samples. For acousto-optic (AO) Q-switched laser operation, the shortest pulse width, highest peak power and maximum pulse energy came from the a-cut sample, which were 13 ns, 2.69 kW and 35 μJ, respectively.