Passively Q-switched 1.34 μm Nu: GdVO4 baser with V: YAG saturable absorber

By using a new saturable absorber V3+:YAG,a flash-lamp-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO4 laser at 1.34 mu m has been realized. Both a-cut and c-cut Nd:GdVO4 crystals are used. The output single-pulse energy and the pulse width versus the pump energy for different initial transmissions of V3+:YAG saturable absorbers are measured. The experimental results show that, c-cut Nd:GdVO4 laser can generate the shorter pulse width and higher energy in comparison to a-cut one.