Page 54 - Microsoft Word - Journal of Physics.doc

Solid-state lasers

Laser gain medium

and type

Operation wavelength(s)

Pump source

Applications and notes

Ruby laser 694nm Flashlamp

Holography, tattoo removal. The first type of visible light laser invented; May 1960.

Laser Nd:YAG

Pag

Invisible 1.064nm, 1.320nm

Flashlamp, Laser diode

Material processing, rangefinding, laser target designation, surgery, research, pumping other lasers (combined with frequency doubling to produce a green 532 nm beam). One of the most common high power lasers. Usually pulsed (down to fractions of a nanosecond

Laser Er:YAG

Pag

Invisible 2.940nm

Flashlamp, Laser diode

Periodontal scaling, Dentistry

Laser Nd:YVO

4

Invisible 1.064nm ~530 nm

Laser diode

Mostly used for continuous pumping of mode-

locked Ti:sapphire or dye lasers, in combination with frequency doubling. Also used pulsed for marking and micromachining. A frequency doubled nd:YVO

4 laser is also the normal way of making a green laser

pointer.

Laser Nd:YCOB (Nd:YCa

4 O(BO

3 )

3 )

Invisible ~1.060nm ~530 nm at second harmonic

Laser diode

Nd:YCOB is a so called "self-frequency doubling" or SFD laser material which is both capable of lasing and which has nonlinear characteristics suitable for second harmonic generation. Such materials have the potential to simplify the design of high brightness green lasers.