Radiation Hardness of Nd:GdVO4 Laser Crystal under γ-Ray Irradiation

Аннотация

The radiation hardness of neodymium-doped gadolinium vanadate crystal (Nd:GdVO₄) has been investigated. Crystal with sizes of 4×4×8 mm doped to a level of 0.5% Nd³⁺ and (for comparison) undoped GdVO₄ crystal were γ-irradiated by a ⁶⁰Co source to an absorbed dose of about 10⁶ to 10⁷ rad. The photoinduced absorption spectra of the crystals have been studied. Intense lasing with a differential efficiency up to about 25% was obtained in an irradiated Nd:GdVO₄ crystal. It is shown that irradiation of a crystal up to a dose of 10⁷ rad does not reduce significantly its laser efficiency.