Four-dimensional thermal analysis of 888 nm pumped Nd:Yvo4 dual-rod acousto-optic Q-switched laser

Abstract

A theoretical analysis upon the four-dimensional (4D) spatio-temporal temperature dependent dynamics of 888 nm pumped Nd:YVO4 dual-rod laser is established, which is valid in both continuous-wave (CW) and acousto-optic (AO) Q-switched pulse lasers conditions. Our model can accurately solve the 4D thermal generation and temperature evolution not only in the steady Q-switched state, but also in the first few unstable giant or dwarf pulses region. Factors including ground state depletion (GSD), energy transfer upconversion (ETU), fluorescence branching ratios, temperature-dependent cross sections and nonradiative relaxations processes are comprehensively considered for precisely estimating thermal effects, valid in both the steady pulse region and the unstable region at the beginning. Moreover, temporal and spatial temperature profiles and their coupling effect on output properties at different repetition-rates are discussed. Experiments of high-power high-repetition-rate 888 nm end-pumped Nd:YVO4 dual-rod CW and AO Q-switched lasers are also firstly presented and the experimental results enjoy good consistency with our theory.