Neodymium-doped Gadolinium Orthovanadate (Nd:GdVO₄) is a high-efficiency laser crystal widely used in diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser systems. While similar to Nd:YVO₄, Nd:GdVO₄ offers higher absorption efficiency, improved thermal performance, and broader emission bandwidth, making it an excellent choice for high-power and precision laser applications.
Key Advantages of Nd:GdVO₄
- High Absorption Efficiency: Exhibits a significantly higher absorption coefficient at 808 nm, enabling efficient diode pumping and compact laser designs.
- High Output Power with Lower Thermal Load: Supports higher output power while reducing thermal stress, ideal for continuous-wave and high-duty-cycle operation.
- Broad Emission Bandwidth: Enables wavelength tunability and is well suited for ultrafast and nonlinear optical applications.
- Good Thermal Conductivity: Effective heat dissipation improves beam stability and laser lifetime under high-power conditions.
Typical Applications
- High-Power DPSS Lasers: Material processing, laser cutting, and industrial manufacturing
- Precision Marking & Engraving: Semiconductor fabrication and fine mechanical components
- Medical Laser Systems: Surgical and therapeutic lasers requiring stable beam quality
- Scientific & Research Lasers: Spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, and laboratory laser sources
Shape Optics Supply Capability
Nd Dopant Concentration: 0.2% – 3.0% (atomic %)
Available Dimensions:
- Rod Diameter: 1 mm – 35 mm
- Length: 1 mm – 50 mm
Coatings: AR, HR, or custom coatings available upon request
Standard Optical & Mechanical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dopant Concentration Tolerance | ±0.1% |
| Parallelism | < 10 arc seconds |
| Perpendicularity | < 5 arc minutes |
| Chamfer | 0.1 mm × 45° |
| Clear Aperture | ≥ 95% |
| Scratch & Dig | 20/10 or better |
| Surface Flatness | λ/10 @ 633 nm |
| Wavefront Distortion | λ/8 @ 633 nm |
| Damage Threshold | > 15 J/cm² (TEM₀₀, 10 ns, 10 Hz) |
Physical & Optical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Crystal Structure | Zircon tetragonal (D₄h) |
| Lattice Constants | a=b=7.21 Å, c=6.35 Å |
| Density | 5.47 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1780 °C |
| Thermal Expansion (300 K) | aa = 1.5×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, ac = 7.3×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ |
| Thermal Conductivity | 11.7 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ (‖ ⟨110⟩) |
Laser Performance Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Lasing Wavelengths | 912.6 nm, 1063.1 nm, 1341.3 nm |
| Emission Cross Section | 7.6×10⁻¹⁹ cm² @1064 nm |
| Peak Absorption Wavelength | 808.5 nm |
| Absorption Cross Section | 4.9×10⁻¹⁹ cm² @808 nm |
| Absorption Coefficient | 74 cm⁻¹ @808 nm |
| Absorption Length | 0.18 mm |
| Refractive Index @1064 nm | no = 1.972, ne = 2.192 |
| Fluorescence Lifetime | 95 µs (1.2% Nd) |
| Loss Coefficient | 0.003 cm⁻¹ @1064 nm |
| Linewidth | 0.6 nm |
| Polarization | π-polarized (‖ c-axis) |
| Optical-to-Optical Efficiency | > 60% |
Sellmeier Equations (Undoped GdVO₄)
Ordinary Ray (no): n² = 4.734369 + 0.1216149 / (λ² − 0.0523664) − 0.13927 λ²
Extraordinary Ray (ne): n² = 3.8987165 + 0.05990622 / (λ² − 0.0514395) − 0.011319 λ²
Custom & OEM Laser Crystal Solutions
Nd:GdVO₄ crystals feature large stimulated emission cross sections, high absorption efficiency, and low pump wavelength sensitivity, making them ideal for advanced DPSS laser architectures.
Shape Optics supplies both Nd-doped and undoped GdVO₄ crystals, fully customizable to your optical, mechanical, and coating requirements.