Single frequency 1070 nm Nd:GdVO4 laser using a volume Bragg grating

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Atomic Physics

Background:

• High-stability, narrow-linewidth lasers are crucial for precision measurements in atomic physics.
• Diode-pumped solid-state lasers offer advantages in efficiency and compactness.
• Neodymium-doped gadolinium vanadate (Nd:GdVO4) is a promising gain medium for laser development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a single-frequency diode-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser.
• To characterize its output power, linewidth, beam quality, and frequency stability.
• To assess its potential as a light source for parity non-conservation experiments.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a short plano-concave cavity with a volume Bragg grating as the output coupler.
• Employing diode-pumping for the Nd:GdVO4 gain medium.
• Implementing frequency locking to a confocal reference cavity for stability measurements.

Main Results:

• Achieved a maximum TEM00 output power of 300 mW with a linewidth < 23 MHz.
• Measured a beam propagation parameter M2 of 1.2 and a divergence angle of 0.37° at 200 mW.
• Demonstrated a single-frequency tuning range of 5.1 GHz and achieved a relative frequency stability of 7.58 kHz.

Conclusions:

• The developed Nd:GdVO4 laser exhibits excellent performance characteristics for a single-frequency source.
• Its stability and narrow linewidth make it a viable candidate for high-precision atomic physics applications.
• Frequency doubling of this laser output is suitable for parity non-conservation experiments in atomic thallium.