Oxide Ceramic Laser
Abstract
Polycrystalline ceramic laser rods, composed of a cubic solid solution of 89 - 94 mole % Y2O3, 10 - 5% ThO2 and 1% Nd2O3, were synthesized by a conventional ceramic sintering approach. Rods of this material, called Nd- doped Yttralox (NDY) ceramic, can be produced with threshold energies lower than that of the best commercially available Nd:glass laser and with a lasing efficiency about 93% that of laser glass at 40J of input energy under pulsed mode conditions. Laser rods can be produced with large variable intermediate- gains by controlled composition; lasing efficiencies depend strongly on cooling rate from the sintering temperature and on the method of powder preparation and processing. Preliminary measurements of laser induced damage in NDY ceramic reveals that surface damage precedes bulk damage and that these damage thresholds are presently about 1/4 that of laser glass. Active attenuation coefficients for AR-coated NDY laser rods are given. Careful powder preparation and processing procedures and controlled oxidation of Yttralox ceramic can generate a visible-middle infrared filter or an infrared filter with porosities as low as 10 to the -6th power to 10 to the -7th power.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 24, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0765345
Entities
People
- Charles D. Greskovich
Organizations
- General Electric