Virtual Journal of Laser

Thermo-optic coefficients dn/dT of anisotropic Nd(3 at.%):KGd(WO₄)₂, KGd(WO₄)₂, Nd(0.4 at.%):YVO₄ and Nd(0.4 at.%):GdVO₄ crystals were measured at 632.8 nm, 300 K by a beam deflection method. For Nd:KGd(WO₄)₂, the values of dn/dT amount to dn
_p/dT=−14.8×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, dn
_m/dT=−10.1×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and dn
_g/dT=−16.0×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. For vanadate crystals, dn
_e/dT=3.1×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, dn
_o/dT=8.2×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ (for Nd:YVO₄) and dn
_e/dT=4.3×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, dn
_o/dT=5.5×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ (for Nd:GdVO₄). Athermal propagation directions were found in Nd:KGd(WO₄)₂ for light polarized along the N
_p and N
_m optical indicatrix axes (with dn/dT+(n−1)α
_T=0 definition) and for light polarized along the N
_g and N
_m axes (with dn/dT+n
α
_T=0 definition).