The thermal effect in diode-end-pumped continuous-wave 914-nm Nd:YVO4 laser

The thermal effect and the heat generation in diode-end-pumped continuous-wave 914-nm Nd:YVO4 lasers are investigated in detail. A theoretical model of a diode end-pumped solid-state laser is constructed to analyse the influence of fractional thermal loading on the thermal effect in the Nd:YVO4 laser based on finite element analysis. The thermal focal lengths and the end-surface deformations of laser rods in Nd:YVO4 quasi-three-level and four-level lasers are measured and compared with the results obtained by ordinary interferometry for the demonstration of higher thermal loading in 914-nm laser. Finally the fractional thermal loading in the Nd:YVO4 quasi-three-level laser is calculated by matching the experimental and the simulated end deformations. (electromagnetism, optics, acoustics, heat transfer, classical mechanics, and fluid dynamics)