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Atomic Layer Deposition of Vanadium Dioxide and a Temperature-dependent Optical Model
Published on: May 23, 2018
Comparative study between conventional and diffusion-bonded Nd-doped vanadate crystals in the passively mode-locked
Y J Huang1, Y P Huang, H C Liang
1Department of Electrophysics, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Optics Express
|July 1, 2010
Summary
Diffusion-bonded neodymium-doped gadolinium vanadate (Nd:GdVO4) crystals show broader mode-locked pulse widths than conventional crystals, despite reduced thermal effects. This broadening is due to the undoped region
Area of Science:
- Laser physics and nonlinear optics
- Materials science for solid-state lasers
Background:
- Neodymium-doped gadolinium vanadate (Nd:GdVO4) is a promising laser gain medium.
- Diffusion bonding offers potential advantages in laser crystal fabrication, such as reduced thermal lensing.
- Passively mode-locked lasers are crucial for generating ultrashort optical pulses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of conventional and diffusion-bonded Nd:GdVO4 crystals in passively mode-locked operation.
- To investigate the influence of crystal type on mode-locked pulse characteristics and thermal effects.
- To identify the underlying mechanisms responsible for observed differences in pulse width.
Main Methods:
- Design and implementation of a reliable linear three-element laser cavity.
- Comparative experimental study using both conventional and diffusion-bonded Nd:GdVO4 crystals.
- Characterization of passively mode-locked operation, including pulse width measurements.
- Analysis of thermal effects and spatial-hole-burning (SHB) phenomena.
Main Results:
- Diffusion-bonded Nd:GdVO4 crystals significantly reduced thermal effects compared to conventional crystals.
- Passively mode-locked operation with diffusion-bonded crystals resulted in considerably broader pulse widths.
- Experimental verification confirmed that the undoped region in diffusion-bonded crystals is the cause of pulse broadening.
- The reduced spatial-hole-burning (SHB) effect, due to the undoped part, leads to the observed pulse broadening.
Conclusions:
- While diffusion bonding effectively mitigates thermal issues in Nd:GdVO4 lasers, it introduces a trade-off in pulse width.
- The presence of an undoped section in diffusion-bonded crystals, reducing SHB, is the primary cause of broader pulses.
- Understanding this trade-off is crucial for optimizing laser design based on specific application requirements for pulse duration and thermal management.
