Thermal and Laser Properties of Nd:YVO4 Crystal

TLDR: In this paper, the thermal expansion coefficients along a- and c-axis are α 1 = 2.2 × 10 -6 /K, and α 3 = 8.4 × 10 −6/K respectively.

Abstract: Nd:YVO 4 crystal has been grown by Czochralski method. The data of thermal expansion and specific heat have been measured. The thermal expansion coefficients along a- and c-axis are α 1 = 2.2 × 10 -6 /K, and α 3 = 8.4 × 10 -6 /K respectively. The specific heat is 24.6 cal/mol K at 330 K. The large anisotropy along c- and a-axis of thermal expansion coefficients is explained by the structure of YVO 4 crystal. 921 mW output laser at 1.06 μm has been obtained with a 3 mm × 3 mm × 1 mm crystal sample when pumped by 1840 mW cw laser diode, and the slope efficiency is 55.5%.