Abstract
In the last decade, poly-crystalline (ceramic) Nd:YAG components emerged as very promising candidates for high-power lasers, exhibiting some advantages over single-crystal Nd:YAG ones. Such devices are required to endure high thermal stress during operation. In our present work we present experimental results on the strengthening of poly-crystalline YAG and Nd:YAG fine-ground components by chemical etching in hot ortho-phosphoric acid. The strength of poly-crystalline Nd:YAG laser rods was measured inside a laser head by applying the pump power till rod fracture. A factor of ∼3 increase in the fracture longitudinal heat power density for etched poly-crystalline Nd:YAG rods as compared to standard commercial poly-crystalline rods was obtained. This effect is similar to our previous results on single-crystal Nd:YAG laser rods which showed a factor of 3.6-5.0 increase in tensile strength by the same treatment. A modified Weibull analysis was used to assess the fracture probability parameters.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 695-701 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Optical Materials |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2011 |
Keywords
- Laser ceramics
- Mechanical properties
- Poly-crystalline
- Weibull analysis
- Yag
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Spectroscopy
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering