Laser-diode-array end-pumped 8.2-W CW Nd : GdVO4 laser at 1.34 μm

A laser-diode-array end-pumped 0.3-at.% Nd-doped GdVO
₄
high-power continuous-wave (CW) laser operating at 1.34 μm has been demonstrated. The maximum CW output power of 8.23 W was obtained at the incident pump power of 27.9 W, giving the corresponding optical conversion efficiency of 29.5% and the average slope efficiency of 30.2%. Two Nd : GdVO
₄
crystals with Nd/sup 3+/ concentration of 0.5 and 1.14 at.% were also investigated for the comparison to show the advantage of lowly Nd-doped crystals applied to high-power lasers.