掺钕钒酸钇作为一种重要的激光增益介质,以其受激发射截面大、对809 nm波长存在很强的宽吸收带、偏振发射等优点,在LD端面泵浦全固态激光器中得到了广泛的应用,其中比较有应用价值的受激发射谱线为1 064 nm,1 342 nm和914 nm.由于914 nm谱线属准三能级结构,以及钒酸钇晶体较低的热导率,限制了其向大功率方向的发展.研究了一种具有较高效率的大功率钒酸钇连续输出激光器,通过采用简单的折叠腔设计和对腔镜镀适当的介质膜,抑制了波长为1 064 nm和1 342 nm的高增益谱线.当泵浦功率为29 W时,输出功率高达6.5 W,斜效率为37.9%,光光转换效率为22.4%.

As an important laser active medium, Nd: YVO4 is widely used in LD end-pumped solidstate lasers due to its large stimulated emission cross section, very strong broad absorption band at 809 nm and polarized emission,etc, and it has three useful stimulated emission spectra of 1 064 nm,1 342 nm and 914 nm but the quasi three level of 914 nm spectum and the low thermal conductivity of YVO4 crystal limit the development of its high power laser output. An efficient high power LD-endpumped continuous-wave (CW) Nd: YVO4 laser has been developed by restraining the high gains at wavelengths of 1 064 nm and 1 342 nm with a simple folded cavity and suitable medium film applied on its three mirrors. An output power of 6.5 W, slope efficiency of 37.9% and optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 22.4% can be achieved when the pump power is 29 W.