Laser glass is a type of solid laser material based on glass. It has become the primary laser material for high-power and high-power lasers and is widely used in various types of solid-state laser light.
The qualities of glass as a laser-functioning material are as follows:
A wide range of chemical compositions as well as manufacturing procedures can be differed to obtain many vital properties, such as fluorescence, high thermal stability, low thermal expansion coefficient, adverse temperature refraction coefficient, high optical uniformity, in addition to very easy availability in a selection of shapes and sizes, and affordable.
Laser glass is composed of matrix glass and also contains activated ions. The physical as well as chemical properties of laser glass are generally identified by the matrix glass, while its spectral properties are generally identified by the activated ions; however, they are likewise interrelated and also affect each other.
Types of laser glass
Currently there are mainly silicate laser glass, phosphate laser glass, borate and also borosilicate laser glass, fluorophosphate and fluoride laser glass, silicophosphate laser glass, high neodymium focus laser glass and numerous type of, we generally introduce silicate laser glass as well as phosphate, borate as well as borosilicate laser glass and also high neodymium focus laser glass these three kinds.
Characteristics of neodymium drugged glass
1) silicate system glass
It has long fluorescence lifetime, high quantum performance, and also a collection of excellent physical as well as chemical properties. If the permeability is little, the chemical security is excellent as well as the mechanical stamina is high, the production and also production process is fairly basic and mature, it is much easier to acquire huge glass with high optical harmony on the basis of the optical glass manufacturing process. This sort of glass is generally made use of for high energy output and also high power outcome laser, is one of the most extensively utilized laser glass
2) Glass with a borate and borosilicate system
The fluorescence lifetime of boron-containing glass is shorter, as is the quantum efficiency; however, the absorption coefficient of Nd3+ is higher and the thermal expansion coefficient is lower. Because the threshold energy of pulse oscillation is proportional to the fluorescence lifetime, even though the fluorescence lifetime of boron glass is short and the absorption coefficient is high, a reduced limit power suitable for high-repetition-rate pulse laser can be obtained.
3) Phosphate-system glass
The phosphate-system glass has a short fluorescence life and a narrow fluorescence spectrum line, as well as solid near-infrared absorption of Nd3+, which contributes to the full use of light pump energy. Due to the difficulties in the manufacturing procedure, such as the serious disintegration of the refractory crucible as well as the inadequate optical harmony, its wide application is restricted. Nonetheless, phosphorous-salt glass with a reduced thermo-optical coefficient can be obtained by adjusting the composition of the glass; recently, it has been made use of in repetition regularity devices.
Benefits of laser glass
The chemical structure of glass can be changed in a wide range to create a variety of laser glasses with various properties, and the types and amounts of turned-on ions incorporated are not limited, making it simple to create large laser rods or laser discs with high optical quality. Laser glass is also much less expensive than laser-functioning products such as crystals.
Phosphate glass is common Erbium glass (Er,Yb:Glass) and Nd Glass.
Applications
Laser glass has the advantages of high optical quality, big volume, wide discharge range, strong anti-laser damage capability, very easy processing, and a cheap rate. Laser results with high illumination, high directivity, high monochrome, and high coherence can be obtained as a strong laser product.
Hence, it has actually been extensively utilized in industry, farming, life sciences and also military.
Laser glass for high power laser devices:
Neodymium glass high power laser gadget is the major device for the research of laser fusion, which plays a crucial function in the growth and also research study of new energy as well as plasma physics.
Difference between laser glass as well as laser crystal
Laser glass and laser crystal are solid laser-functioning materials. The distinction between both is that the triggered ions in the glass materials are in the disordered solid glass matrix, while the turned on ions in the laser crystal materials remain in the solid crystal matrix. Although most of the turned on ions that can create laser light in glass can also produce laser light in crystals, the fluorescence system is the same. However, the actions of activated ions vary depending on the substratum: in glass, it is generally dependent on the polarization of the glass tool, whereas the influence of the crystal substratum is primarily dependent on the lattice area, and the spectral features vary as well. At the same time, the physical and chemical properties of the substrates themselves are different, which makes them ideal for different application purposes.
Read more: BBO crystal properties
