Layered Yb:YAG ceramics produced by two different methods: processing, characterization, and comparison

Jan Hostaša; Valentina Biasini; Andreana Piancastelli; Matteo Vannini; Guido Toci

doi:10.1117/1.OE.55.8.087104

15 August 2016 Layered Yb:YAG ceramics produced by two different methods: processing, characterization, and comparison

Jan Hostaša, Valentina Biasini, Andreana Piancastelli, Matteo Vannini, Guido Toci

Author Affiliations +

Funded by: Italian Ministry of Defence under PNRM

Optical Engineering, Vol. 55, Issue 8, 087104 (August 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.8.087104

Abstract

Yb:YAG ceramic solid-state laser gain media have been of growing interest for high-repetition rate and high-power lasers during the last few years. A great advantage of ceramic technology compared with that of single crystals is the flexibility of shaping methods allowing the production of near-net-shape components with a well-defined internal structure. A favorable dopant distribution can enhance laser efficiency by mitigating thermal effects. The presented work reports on Yb:YAG transparent ceramics composed of layers with different Yb doping produced by two different shaping methods: dry pressing of spray-dried powders and tape casting, all sintered under high vacuum. The selected geometry of materials was based on numerical simulations. Optical quality of produced ceramics was characterized and discussed in connection with the microstructure and laser emission results. Output power of nearly 7 W and slope efficiency of 58.1% were obtained in quasi-continuous wave regime from bilayered 0% to 10% Yb:YAG. In the case of multilayered materials, higher scattering losses were observed. The comparison of the two processing methods highlighted that the tape-cast materials provided higher optical uniformity and the diffusion zone between the single layers with different dopant content was about 150 μm compared to about 250 μm in samples produced by pressing of powders.

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Jan Hostaša, Valentina Biasini, Andreana Piancastelli, Matteo Vannini, and Guido Toci "Layered Yb:YAG ceramics produced by two different methods: processing, characterization, and comparison," Optical Engineering 55(8), 087104 (15 August 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.8.087104

Published: 15 August 2016

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