Comparison between Self-Raman Nd:YVO4 Lasers and NdYVO4/KGW Raman Lasers at Lime and Orange Wavelengths

Abstract

The comparison of output powers between self-Raman Nd:YVO4 lasers and Nd:YVO4/KGW Raman lasers operating at lime and orange wavelengths is presented. We exploit the LBO crystal with cutting angle θ = 90° and φ = 8° for the lime wavelengths, and then we change the angle to θ = 90° and φ = 3.9° for the orange wavelengths. In self-Raman Nd:YVO4 lasers, experimental results reveal that thermal loading can impact on the output performances, especially at the high pump power. However, by using a KGW crystal as Raman medium can remarkably share the thermal loading from gain medium. Besides, the designed coating for high reflectively at the Stokes field on the surface of KGW also improved the beam quality and reduced the lasing threshold. For self-Raman Nd:YVO4 lasers, we have achieved the output powers of 6.54 W and 5.12 W at 559 nm and 588 nm, respectively. For Nd:YVO4/KGW Raman lasers, the output powers at 559 nm and 589 nm have been increased to 9.1 W and 7.54 W, respectively. All lasers operate at a quasi-CW regime with the repetition rate 50 Hz and the duty cycle 50%.