Analysis of a laser-diode end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO4 laser with Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber

Abstract The intracavity photon density is assumed to be Gaussian spatial distribution and the longitudinal variation of the intracavity photon density is also considered in the rate equations of a laser-diode end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO 4 laser with Cr 4+ :YAG saturable absorber. These space-dependent rate equations are solved numerically. From the numerical solutions, we obtain the dependences of pulse width, pulse repetition rate, single-pulse energy and peak power on pump power. The experiments performed on a laser-diode end-pumped Nd:GdVO 4 laser passively Q-switched by a Cr 4+ :YAG saturable absorber are consistent with the theoretical calculations.