Neodymium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Nd:YLF) is a notable laser crystal used in various scientific, medical, and industrial applications. Nd:YLF stands out for its unique properties, making it suitable for specific laser operations where certain pulse characteristics and wavelengths are required.
Properties of Nd:YLF:
- Unique Wavelengths: Nd:YLF lasers typically emit light at wavelengths of 1047 nm and 1053 nm for the π- and σ-polarized light, respectively. This provides options for applications that require different wavelengths for optimized performance.
- Pulse Characteristics: Nd:YLF is particularly well-suited for producing short pulses, making it ideal for applications that require high-precision and high peak power, such as in certain types of rangefinders and materials processing equipment.
- Lower Thermal Conductivity: Compared to Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF has a lower thermal conductivity, which can be beneficial in reducing thermal effects in some applications, but may also limit the power output in others.
- High Diode Pump Efficiency: Nd:YLF can be efficiently pumped by laser diodes, which makes it cost-effective in terms of energy consumption and beneficial for compact laser designs.
Applications:
- Precision Materials Processing: The short pulses and specific wavelengths of Nd:YLF make it suitable for precision cutting, drilling, and marking of materials where minimal heat damage is crucial.
- Medical Treatments: Nd:YLF lasers are used in various medical applications, including dermatology and dentistry, where short, controlled laser pulses are required for precise, minimally invasive procedures.
- Scientific Research: In scientific settings, Nd:YLF lasers are used for pump-probe experiments, spectroscopy, and other research applications where pulse characteristics and wavelength tunability are important.
- Laser Ranging and Lidar: The ability to produce short, high-energy pulses makes Nd:YLF suitable for high-resolution laser ranging and Lidar systems used in geology, surveying, and autonomous vehicle navigation.
The manufacturing of Nd:YLF involves doping Yttrium Lithium Fluoride with neodymium ions. This process must be carefully controlled to ensure the uniform distribution of neodymium and the optical quality of the crystal. Nd:YLF lasers continue to be important in applications that benefit from their distinct pulse properties and wavelength options.
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Shapeoptics is Able to Offer
- Nd dopand concentration from 0.4% to 1.2% (atm%)
- Er dopand concentration from 0.5% to 3% (mol%)
- Rod diameter from 1mm to 25.4mm
- Length from 1mm to 180mm
- Coating upon your request
Standard Specifications
|
Dopant Concentration Tolerance |
+/- 0.1% |
|
Parallelism / arc seconds |
< 10 |
|
Perpendicularity / arc minutes |
< 5 |
|
Chamfer / mm |
0.1 @45 |
|
Clear Aperture |
95% |
|
Scratch and Dig |
10/5 |
|
Surface Flatness | Lambda/10 @633nm |
|
Wavefront Distortion | Lambda /10 @633nm (Dia < 7mm)Lambda /8 @633nm (Dia ≥ 7mm) |
|
Damage Threshold / J.cm-2 |
> 15 (TEM00, 10ns, 10Hz) |
Optical Properties
|
Peak Stimulated Emission Cross Section / cm2 |
1.2 x 10-19 @1053 nm (E // a-axis) 1.81 x 10-19 @1047 nm (E // a-axis) |
|
Transparency Region / m |
0.18 ～ 6.7 |
|
Spontaneous Fluorescence Lifetime / s |
485 s for 1% Nd |
|
Scatter Losses / cm-1 |
< 0.2% |
|
Peak Absorption Coefficient (1.2% Nd) / cm-1 |
a=3.59 @797 nm (E ⊥ c-axis) a=10.8 @792 nm (E // c-axis) |
Physical Properties
|
Chemical Formula |
LiY1.0xNdxF4 |
|
Crystal Structure |
Tetragonal System |
|
Lattice Constants / A |
a=5.16, c=10.85 |
|
Concentration / cm3 |
~ 1.4 x 1020 for 1% Nd doped |
|
Density / g.cm3 |
3.99 |
|
Melting Point / ℃ |
819 |
|
Knoop Hardness / Kg.mm2 |
300 |
|
Refractive Index |
1.82 |
|
Thermal Expansion Coefficient / K-1 |
8.3 x 10-6 parallel c-axis |
|
Thermal Conductivity / W.cm-1K-1 |
0.063 |
|
Specific Heat / J.g-1K-1 |
0.79 |
Neodymium doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Nd:YLF) is a good performance laser crystal, with low thermal lensing effect and high power. We can offer Nd, Pr, Er, Tm, Ho and no doped YLF crys- tals performing the specifications upon your request.
Shapeoptics offers a comprehensive range of materials and advanced equipment for custom and OEM optical components, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in manufacturing lenses, prisms, windows, and more. We utilize high-quality materials like UV and IR grade fused silica, Germanium, and ZnSe, among others. Our state-of-the-art techniques and equipment minimize waste and optimize delivery times. Our in-house capabilities include standard and custom coatings across the UV-NIR spectrum, ensuring high quality and compliance with all industry standards. For precision and reliability in optics, contact Shapeoptics for your next project.
