Two-frequency vanadate lasers with mutually parallel and orthogonal polarisations of radiation

Abstract

Luminescent and lasing properties of α-cut Nd : YVO4, Nd : GdVO4, Nd:Gd1-xYxVO4, and Nd:Sc1-xYxVO4 vanadate crystals are experimentally studied for the p- and s-polarisations of the emission at the 4F3/2 — 4F11/2 transition. Two-frequency lasing was obtained with mutually orthogonal and parallel polarisations of radiation in the cw, Q-switching, and mode-locking regimes. A scheme of a laser — amplifier of two-frequency pulses is realised.