Output properties of diode-pumped passively Q-switched 1.06 μm Nd:GdVO4 laser using a [100]-cut Cr4+:YAG crystal

A passively Q-switched 1.06 mu m Nd:GdVO4 laser with a [100]-cut Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber was demonstrated. The output characteristics were investigated when the anisotropic transmission of Cr4+:YAG crystal and the incident pump power level were considered. The experimental results showed that it was feasible to generate laser with narrower pulse width ( ), higher pulse energy and peak power when the polarization direction of laser was parallel to the [001], [010], [], and [] orientations of the Cr4+:YAG crystal. The different changes of as a function of incident pump power was observed due to the anisotropy of transmission of Cr4+:YAG and the different gain levels (pump power levels). If the Cr4+:YAG was fully bleached as a result of high cavity gain or due to the laser polarization direction was parallel to the [001], [010], [], and [] orientations, was constant, otherwise decreased when the gain increased.