Material General Description of Nd:YVO4 Crystal
Neodymium Doped Yttrium Orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) is a highly efficient laser host crystal widely used in diode-pumped solid-state lasers, particularly for low to medium power density applications. Its absorption and emission properties surpass those of Nd:YAG, making it a superior choice for compact and efficient laser systems.
Nd:YVO4 features a wide absorption bandwidth (~808 nm), enabling efficient energy absorption even with non-ideal laser diode wavelengths. The crystal is also known for its large stimulated emission cross-section, which supports high-power output and superior performance in continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed laser systems. Additionally, the uniaxial birefringence of Nd:YVO4 ensures linearly polarized emission, enhancing efficiency for frequency-doubling processes when combined with nonlinear crystals like LBO or KTP.
Nd:YVO4-based lasers are extensively used in a variety of applications, including precision machining, medical diagnostics, spectroscopy, and laser displays. With its compact design and high quantum efficiency, Nd:YVO4 is rapidly replacing traditional lamp-pumped laser systems in modern applications.
General Applications and Examples Description of Nd:YVO4 Crystal
Nd:YVO4 crystals are widely used in advanced laser systems due to their superior performance characteristics. Examples include:
Property | Value |
Chemical Formula | Nd:YVO4 |
Crystal Structure | Zircon Tetragonal, Space Group D4h-14/amd |
Lattice Constants | a = b = 7.12 Å, c = 6.29 Å |
Density | 4.22 g/cm³ |
Mohs Hardness | 4–5 (Glass-like) |
Thermal Expansion | a = 4.43 × 10⁻⁶ /K at 300 K; c = 11.37 × 10⁻⁶ /K |
Thermal Conductivity | a = 5.23 W/m·K; c = 5.10 W/m·K |
Transparency Range | ~400 nm to 5 µm |
Property | Value |
Lasing Wavelengths | 1064 nm (IR), 1342 nm |
Thermal Optical Coefficient | dn/dT = 8.5 × 10⁻⁶ /K (nₒ), dn/dT = 2.9 × 10⁻⁶ /K (nₑ) |
Stimulated Emission Cross-Section | 25 × 10⁻¹⁹ cm² at 1064 nm |
Fluorescent Lifetime | 90 µs (1% Nd doping) |
Absorption Coefficient | 31.4 cm⁻¹ at 808 nm |
Intrinsic Loss | 0.02 cm⁻¹ at 1064 nm |
Gain Bandwidth | 0.96 nm at 1064 nm |
Polarized Laser Emission | π-Polarization, parallel to optical c-axis |
Diode Pumped Efficiency | >60% |
Specification | Value |
Dimension Tolerance | ±0.1 mm (standard); ±0.005 mm (high precision) |
Clear Aperture | Central 95% of the diameter |
Surface Quality | 20-10 Scratch-Dig |
Surface Flatness | λ/8 at 633 nm |
Parallelism | <10 arc seconds |
Perpendicularity | <5 arc minutes |
Chamfer | 0.1 mm at 45° |
Damage Threshold | >15 J/cm² (10 ns, 10 Hz at 1064 nm) |
Nd:YVO4 crystals exhibit high transparency over a wide range, from visible to infrared wavelengths (400 nm to 5 µm). A typical absorption curve for 0.5% Nd:YVO4 indicates efficient energy absorption at 808 nm for diode pumping, with minimal absorption losses across other wavelengths.
(Graphical data available upon request.)
Coating Type | Specifications |
AR Coating | R < 0.2% at 808 nm; R < 0.1% at 1064 nm |
Custom Coatings | Gold or chrome plated; available on request |
Adhesion Test Compliant with MIL-C-675C military standards, an adhesion test involved applying a tape that meets LT-90 specifications onto the lens film layer. The tape was affixed fully and then removed vertically. This procedure was performed three times, resulting in no blistering or peeling.
Temperature Test In line with MIL-C-675C specifications, test pieces were subjected to temperatures of -62±1℃ and 71±1℃. After maintaining them at room temperature (16℃~32℃) for two hours, the adhesion test was repeated, confirming no film detachment.
Abrasion Resistance Test Conforming to MIL-C-675C and CCC-C-440 standards, the abrasion resistance test involved a gauze tester applying a minimum force of 1.0 lbs (0.45 kg) to the film. This was repeated 25 times with gauze widths of 1/4 inch (6.4mm) and 3/8 inch (9.5mm), ensuring no damage occurred to the film surface.
Humidity Test Under MIL-C-675C criteria, the test piece was placed in a controlled temperature and humidity chamber set to 49 ±2℃ and 95%~100% humidity for 24 hours. The film remained intact, with no peeling, scratches, or other defects.
Solvent and Cleaning Testing Following MIL-C-675C specifications, test pieces were exposed to room temperature conditions (16℃~32℃) and tested with acetone and alcohol for at least 10 minutes each. After air drying and subsequent cleaning with a cotton cloth soaked in alcohol, the film surface showed no signs of peeling or scratches.
Salt Spray Test After 100 hours in a 35°C environment with a 5% saltwater concentration, the film showed no signs of damage.
Photonics On Crystals (POC) is a leader in the fabrication and customization of high-quality Nd:YVO4 crystals for advanced photonics applications. Key strengths include:
Product Code | Dimensions (mm) | Doping Level (Nd) | Coating | Price (USD) |
NDYVO4-01 | 3 × 3 × 0.5 | 1.0% | AR @ 808 nm / 1064 nm | Request Quote |
NDYVO4-02 | 6 × 6 × 1 | 1.0% | Customizable | Request Quote |
NDYVO4-03 | 10 × 10 × 2 | 0.5% | Customizable | Request Quote |
Custom-NDYVO4 | Customizable | Customizable | Customizable | Request Quote |
