Diode-end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:Y sub(0.8Lu) sub(0).2VO sub(4 laser with Cr) super(4)+:YAG crystal

A diode end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd: Y sub(0.8Lu) sub(0).2VO sub(4 laser with a Cr) super(4)+: YAG crystal is first demonstrated in this paper. The maximum continuous wave (CW) output power of 5.59 W is obtained at the incident pump power of 13.07 W with the output transmission T = 20%, resulting in an optical-to-optical efficiency of 42.7%. For Q-switching operation, the measured pulse duration of 8.5 ns, the pulse energy of 45.24 mu J and the peak power of 5.32 kW are respectively obtained for the output transmission of 50% when the Cr super(4+: YAG crystal is used with an initial transmission (T) sub(0)) of 60%.