title: Efficient laser performance of Nd:GdVO4 crystals grown by the floating zone method.
abstract: Efficient laser performance is demonstrated with Nd:GdVO4 crystals grown by the floating zone method. With a 2-at. % Nd-doped crystal a slope efficiency of 67% is achieved with pumping at 808 nm. We also find that pumping at 879 nm with a bandwidth of 1.8 nm is practical for laser diode pumping. With this pumping level the slope efficiency reaches 78%. High-quality Nd:GdVO4 crystals are successfully grown with as much as 15-at.% Nd concentration by the floating zone method without inclusions or macroscopic defects. Homogeneity and high reproducibility of crystal growth are confirmed.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan. pogawa@postman.riken.go.jp
authors.forename: Takayo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Urata
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sagae
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodaira