Thermomechanical and thermo-optical properties of the LiCaAlF sub 6 :Cr sup 3+ laser material (US)

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.8.000970· OSTI ID:5679140

Woods, B W; Payne, S A; Marion, J E; Hughes, R S; Davis, L E ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, P.O. Box 5508, Livermore, California 94550 (USA)

Measurements of the intrinsic thermomechanical and thermo-optical properties of the new laser material LiCaAlF{sub 6}:Cr{sup 3+} (known as Cr:LiCAF) are performed. Thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, thermal expansion, elastic constants, fracture toughness, and dispersion and temperature variation of the refractive index are all characterized for this material. In addition, the magnitude of the thermal lensing induced in a flash-lamp-pumped laser rod of Cr:LiCAF is measured and compared with the results obtained for an alexandrite laser rod in the same laser head. We find that the thermal lensing of Cr:LiCAF is favorably small and that the thermomechanical properties are expected to be adequate for applications at low and medium average power.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5679140
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (USA) Vol. 8:5; ISSN JOBPD; ISSN 0740-3224
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM HALIDES
CHROMIUM ADDITIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
EXPANSION
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LASER MATERIALS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
LITHIUM HALIDES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPECIFIC HEAT
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES