Thermal effect of laser diode end-pumped Nd:GdVO4 crystal slab

Based on the theory of thermal analysis, the heat conduction equation of Nd:GdVO4 crystal slab end-pumped by diode laser arrays was built. By solving the equation, the analytic expression of temperature field and thermal focal length distribution along with the change of radius and power of pump light were obtained. When geometry of pumping diodes corresponds to 1 mm × 1 mm, and the power is about 30 W, temperature numerical simulation results show that the maximum temperature rise is 104 K, 31 K, 31.8 K along x, y and z direction, respectively. If making z=0 and y=0, the temperature field of surface xy and xz are similar to the inverted nose, and the maximum temperature rise is 104 K at the two surface. If making x=0, the temperature field of surface yz is similar to the wave packet, and the maximum temperature rise is about 31 K at this surface. The change trends of thermal focal length along with the change of radius and power of pump light were given by numerical simulation. This method can also be applied in the research on the other thermal problems of laser crystal and offer theoretical basis for solving the thermal problems in laser system effectively.