Crystal growth and laser performance of neodymium-doped scandium orthovanadate

摘要

A scandium orthovanadate (ScVO_4) single crystal doped with Nd at a concentration of 0.5 at% with dimensions of φ8 × 35 mm~2 has to our knowledge for the first time been successfully grown by the floating zone method. The absorption spectrum was measured at room temperature, showing that the transition from ~4I_(9/2) to ~4F_(5/2)+~2H_(9/2) is centered at 810 nm with FWHM 6.9 nm. Laser performance of the Nd:ScVO_4 crystal at 1068 nm was demonstrated. A maximum average output power of 240 mW was achieved under a pump power of 5.19 W.