Rare-Earth Doped Apatite Laser Materials
Abstract
The report describes the results of the first phase of a program to evaluate the merits of certain members of the mineral family apatite as hosts for the active laser ion holmium. Of the several silicate oxy-apatites (SOAP) studied, preliminary crystal growth and spectroscopic measurements indicated that YSOAP, CaY4(SiO4)3O, was the most promising laser host. An initial sensitized host composition, believed near optimum for laser action, was derived from spectroscopic measurements on polycrystalline melt samples. This composition, CaY2.27Er1.5Tm.13Ho.1(SiO4)3O forms the starting point for growth of laser quality crystals. A low temperature, liquid nitrogen-cooled laser testing has been designed and built which is suitable for long pulse, CW, and Q- switched laser operation. The first YSOAP rod grown and tested in this system lased at 77K with a threshold of 30 joules.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0870033
Entities
People
- G. W. Roland
- N. T. Melamed
- R. H. Hopkins
- T. Henningsen