Passively Q-switched laser performance of a diode-pump mixed Nd:Lu_0.15Y_0.85VO₄ crystal

A diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:Lu0.15Y0.85VO4 laser with a GaAs output coupler is demonstrated. By using a mixed crystal Nd:Lu0.15Y0.85VO4 as laser medium, the passively Q-switched laser can generate shorter pulse width with higher peak power in comparison with the passively Q-switched Nd:LuVO4 or Nd:YVO4 lasers under the same laser cavity. At the incident pump power 11.9 W, the minimum pulse width of 3.23 ns and the maximum peak power 1.67 kW can be obtained. The average output power and the pulse repetition rate of the laser are also measured. The experimental results show that the mixed crystal is a promising laser medium for shorter Q-switched pulse with higher peak power.