High repetition rate 1.34 μm Q-switched mode-locked Nd:YVO₄ laser

A passively Q-switched mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser based upon V:YAG saturable absorber at 1.34 m is reported. In the case of LD end-pumped, 1.34 m Q-switch mode-locked pulse operation with a repetition rate up to 2.6 GHz is realized by using linear cavity structure at output mirror with 10% transmittance. The Nd3+ concentration of the Nd:YVO4 crystal is 0.2%, and the initial transmittance of V:YAG is 83%. When the incident pump power is 11 W, the maximum average output power of the 1.34 m Q-switched mode-locked laser is 308 mW with a light-light conversion efficiency of 2.8%.