Investigation of LGS–T laser phosphate glass in the pulse-periodic regime

Abstract

A sodium alumophosphate base was used to prepare an athermal laser glass characterized by a high thermal conductivity, which could be used successfully in pulse-periodic lasers. Active elements 8-mm in diameter and 100-mm long made of this glass withstood an average pump power up to 1.6 kW in a highly efficient illumination enclosure. The repetition frequency of the laser emission pulses could be as high as 100 Hz and specific output power up to 20 W/cm2. The divergence of the output radiation was less than in the case of other known athermal glasses. The concentration quenching of the luminescence of the Nd3+ ions in the new glass was weak and the working concentration could exceed 11.2×1020 cm−3 . Active elements 8-mm in diameter and 130-mm long were capable of generating radiation with an average power of 46 W.