Study of the mechanical properties of Nd : YVO4 crystal by use of laser interferometry and finite-element analysis

A hybrid method that combines experimental and numerical approaches for det ermining the material properties of Nd:YVO4 is reported. In the experimenta l investigations a laser interferometer is proposed for measuring the physi cal deformation of lasing materials at the end-pump surface. By matching wi th the measured end bulging, we have implemented a numerical solution with finite-element analyses to determine the Poisson ratio and Young's modulus of the crystal. The accuracy interval of the evaluated Poisson ratio of 0.3 3 and Young's modulus of 133 GPa is discussed numerically Based on the mech anical properties obtained, the end effect is separated from thermal effect s, and it shows that the end effect results in an approximate equal thermal lensing effect compared with the index parts for end-pumped Nd:YVO4 lasers . (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.