Neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12) nanocrystalline ceramics—a new generation of solid state laser and optical materials

Abstract

We have developed and adequately characterized a new generation of solid-state laser and optical materials on the basis of highly transparent nanocrystalline yttrium aluminium garnet Y3Al5O12 (YAG) ceramics. We consider this new type of inorganic laser media as an illustration of selected results of the latest investigations of laser and spectroscopic parameters of nanocrystalline Nd3+:YAG ceramics. In particular, absorption, luminescence, stimulated Raman scattering properties, as well as highly efficient CW laser oscillation at wavelength of 1064 nm under laser-diode pumping were investigated. The results show that this new laser material is a very good alternative to Nd3+:YAG single crystals. In particular, in preliminary comparison laser experiments with both Nd3+:YAG ceramic and single-crystal rods, output powers of 88 W and 99 W were obtained corresponding to optical-to-optical efficiencies of 30% and 34% for ceramic and single crystal rods, respectively. A CW 1.46 kW high power Nd:YAG ceramic laser was developed. Quite recently, laser oscillation at ≈1.32 μm was also demonstrated.