Yb:YAG is one of the most promising laser-active materials and more suitable for diode-pumping than the traditional Nd-doped systems. Compared with the commonly used Nd:YAG crsytal, Yb:YAG crystal has a much larger absorption bandwidth to reduce thermal management requirements for diode lasers, a longer upper-laser level lifetime, three to four times lower thermal loading per unit pump power. Yb:YAG crystal is expected to replace Nd:YAG crystal for high power diode-pumped lasers and other potential applications.
Yb:YAG shows great promise as a high power laser material. Several applications are being developed in the field of industrial lasers, such as metal cutting and welding. With high quality Yb:YAG now available, additional fields and applications are being explored.
Advantages of Yb:YAG Crystal:
• Very low fractional heating, less than 11%
• Very high slope efficiency
• Broad absorption bands, about 8nm@940nm
• No excited-state absorption or up-conversion
• Conveniently pumped by reliable InGaAs diodes at 940nm(or 970nm)
• High thermal conductivity and large mechanical strength
• High optical quality
Applications:
• With a wide pump band and excellent emission cross-section Yb:YAG is an ideal crystal for diode pumping.
• High Output Power 1.029 1mm
• Laser Material for Diode Pumping
• Materials Processing, Welding and Cutting
Basic Properties:
Chemical Formula | Y3Al5O12:Yb (0.1% to 15% Yb) |
Crystal Structure | Cubic |
Output Wavelength | 1.029 um |
Laser Action | 3 Level Laser |
Emission Lifetime | 951 us |
Refractive Index | 1.8 @ 632 nm |
Absorption Bands | 930 nm to 945 nm |
Pump Wavelength | 940 nm |
Absorption band about pump wavelength | 10 nm |
Melting Point | 1970°C |
Density | 4.56 g/cm3 |
Mohs Hardness | 8.5 |
Lattice Constants | 12.01Ä |
Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 7.8×10-6 /K , [111], 0-250°C |
Thermal Conductivity | 7.8×10-6 /K , [111], 0-250°C |
Technical Parameters:
Orientation | within 5° |
Diameter | 3 mm to 10mm |
Diameter Tolerance | +0.0 mm/- 0.05 mm |
Length | 30 mm to 150 mm |
Length Tolerance | ± 0.75 mm |
Perpendicularity | 5 arc-minutes |
Parallelism | 10 arc-seconds |
Flatness | 0.1 wave maximum |
Surface Finish | 20-10 |
Barrel Finish | 400 grit |
End Face Bevel: | 0.075 mm to 0.12 mm at 45° angle |
Chips | No chips allowed on end face of rod; chip having maximum length of 0.3 mm permitted to lie in the area of bevel and barrel surfaces. |
Clear aperture | Central 95% |
Coatings | Standard coating is AR at 1.029 um with R<0.25% each face. Other coatings available. |