Open AccessTemperature stable operation of YCOB crystal for giant-pulse green microlaser
Author(s) -
Arvydas Kausas,
Pascal Loiseau,
G. Aka,
Yanqing Zheng,
Lihe Zheng,
Takunori Taira
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.25.006431
Subject(s) - materials science , lithium triborate , energy conversion efficiency , crystal (programming language) , laser , optics , czochralski method , second harmonic generation , yttrium , slope efficiency , optoelectronics , doping , fiber laser , wavelength , physics , computer science , metallurgy , programming language , oxide
In this work the performance of two yttrium calcium oxyborate (YCOB) crystals made by Czochralski and Bridgman growth process was measured. By using high peak power, passively Q-switched Nd 3+ :YAG/Cr 4+ :YAG microlaser, high conversion second harmonic generation efficiency were obtained. Laser pulses at 532 nm with 1.14 mJ energy and 223 ps duration were obtained with a 15-mm long YCOB crystal that was grown by Bridgman method. The conversion efficiency was 70.2%, comparable with the conversion efficiency of 72.8% that was achieved with 10-mm long lithium triborate (LBO) nonlinear crystal. Also, for the first time, experimental data on temperature tuning in type I YCOB crystal was measured with linear slope in 200°C temperature range equal to -0.057%/°C and -0.064%/°C for the Czochralski and Bridgman grown crystals, respectively. Such YCOB nonlinear crystal can become a serious option for developing laser sources with high-peak power at high repetition rate that can operate in harsh environment.