Thermal lensing in Nd:YVO4 laser with in-band pumping at 914 nm

Thermal lensing in an Nd:YVO4 laser system operating at 1064 nm with in-band pumping at 914 nm was characterized. The focal length of the thermal lens in the crystal was calculated using ABCD matrix formalism from the experimental data of the output beam diameter measurements made at different output power levels. The determined focal lengths of thermal lens were as strong as 4.4 diopters at 3.5 W of output power. The experimental results agree well with the finite element analysis of the developed laser system. A numerical comparison of the thermal lensing effect with 914-, 888-, 880-nm pumping, and with a standard 808-nm pumping was also made, demonstrating effective reduction of thermal lensing up to 2.1 times.