Passively Q-switched laser performance of the mixed crystals Nd:Lu 0.15 Y 0.85 VO 4 , Nd:Lu 0.5 Y 0.5 VO 4 and Nd:Lu 0.33 Y 0.37 Gd 0.3 VO 4 with GaAs saturable absorber

By using the mixed crystals Nd:Lu 0.15 Y 0.85 VO 4 , Nd:Lu 0.5 Y 0.5 VO 4 and Nd:Lu 0.33 Y 0.37 Gd 0.3 VO 4 as laser media, the LD pumped passively Q-switched mixed lasers with GaAs saturable absorber are realized. The average output power, the pulse width etc. have been measured and compared. The experimental results show that the passively Q-switched Nd:Lu 0.33 Y 0.37 Gd 0.3 VO 4 laser can generate shorter pulse width with higher peak power due to broader fluorescence line-width. Under Gaussian spatial distribution approximation, the rate equations for LD pumped passively Q-switched lasers of the mixed crystals with GaAs saturable absorber are given. The numerical solutions of the equations are in agreement with the experimental results.