Characterization of a Longitudinally Pumped CW, Room-Temperature Operation of Tm3+:YVO4 Laser

Abstract
Spectroscopic measurements were carried out to identify the fundamental optical properties of the Tm3+:YVO4 crystal (5 at.% Tm3+ ion concentration) as a laser medium. Absorption spectra, emission cross section versus wavelength of the 3F4-3H6 laser transition, and effective radiative lifetimes closely related to the laser diode pumping kinetics were derived from the measurements. We developed a rate equation model to describe the laser oscillation characteristics in terms of the lasing spectra. The theoretical results agreed well with the experimental results.