A comparative study of Nd:YLF and Nd:YAG crystals for solar-pumped laser application
- Physics Department, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia 23668 (US)
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23665 (USA)
The cw laser performance of Nd:YLF and Nd:YAG crystals were compared under solar-simulator pumping. The measured threshold pump powers were 129 W for a 1.5 atomic % Nd:YLF rod and 143 W for a 1.1 atomic % Nd:YAG rod. The size of both crystals was 3.2 mm in diameter and 76 mm in length. The corresponding pump beam intensities on the rod surfaces were 211 s.c. (solar constants) and 236 s.c., respectively. The slope efficiency of the Nd:YLF was measured to be about 1--1.4 times better than that of the Nd:YAG in the pump beam intensity range from 200 s.c. (=27 W/cm{sup 2}) to 650 s.c. (=88 W/cm{sup 2}). Negative thermal lensing effect of the Nd:YLF rod was calculated and compared with experimental results.
- OSTI ID:
- 6908805
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8810399--
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA) Vol. 191:1; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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