Effect of structural imperfections on lasing characteristics of diode-pumped YVO4, GdVO4and mixed rare-earth vanadate crystals

The efficiency of diode-pumped lasers with gain elements made from yttrium, gadolinium, yttrium — gadolinium and yttrium — scandium orthovanadate crystals has been shown for the first time to be influenced by structural imperfections (quality) of the crystals. This allows one to predict lasing parameters of such crystals in a preliminary step, without fabricating gain elements.