Optical Bistability in a ${\rm Nd}{:}{\rm Lu}_{0.14}{\rm Gd}_{0.86}{\rm VO}_{4}/{\rm Cr{:}YAG}$ Microchip Laser

Optical bistability was realized in a passively Q-switched Nd:Lu
_0.14
Gd
_0.86
VO
₄
microchip laser. The bistable operation range for the incident pump power was 5.9-7.3 W, and the jump output power at the turning point was 0.24 W. By using a four-level laser model with a saturable absorber and Fabry-Perot cavity, the calculated results agreed well with the experimental data.