Heat generation in Nd:YVO4 with and without laser action

We present quantitative interferometric measurements of thermal lensing in a diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ crystal with and without laser action. The thermal loading increased by two times when laser action was inhibited. The thermal loading was strongly dependent on upper laser-level loss mechanisms (e.g. nonradiative decay, quenching, and Auger recombination).