Inhomogeneous spectrum broadening in Nd3+: LuxY1-xVO4 series crystals and consequences on mode-locking laser operation

Homogeneous spectrum broadening caused by temperature increasing and inhomogeneous broadening caused by ions random replacement in Nd3+-doped LuxY1-xVO4 (x = 0, 0.26, 0.41, 0.61, 0.8 and 1) series crystals were investigated. The results revealed that random replacement had greatest influence on the Nd:Lu0.61Y0.39VO4 crystal which showed the widest inhomogeneous spectrum broadening among these crystals. With a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), the passively mode-locking of this series crystals was carried out under the same condition. The shortest pulse was obtained also by the Nd:Lu0.61Y0.39VO4 crystal, which indirectly manifested the widest line-width of this proportion and its excellent properties for pulse laser applications. (c) 2013 Optical Society of America