Cr(5+):GdVO(4) as a saturable absorber for a diode-pumped Nd:Lu(0.5)Gd(0.5)VO(4) laser.

A new Q-switched crystal Cr(5+):GdVO(4) was grown by the Czochralski method for the first time, to our knowledge. Polarized absorption spectra of Cr(5+)+:GdVO(4) were measured at room temperature. The results showed that the crystal has polarized absorption properties, and the absorption band of pi-polarized spectra located at 900 to 1300 nm should be suitable as a passive saturable absorber Q-switched laser at about 1 mum. With Cr(5+):GdVO(4) as a saturable absorber, the pulsed laser performance of Nd:Lu(0.5)Gd(0.5)VO(4) at 1.06 mum was demonstrated. The maximum average output power of 122 mW was obtained under a pump power of 3.79 W. The shortest pulse width and largest pulse energy obtained were 361 ns and 0.77 muJ, respectively. To our knowledge, it is the first time the absorption spectra of Cr(5+):GdVO(4) and a pulsed laser with the crystal as the saturable absorber have been obtained.