Accession Number:
AD0742730
Title:
Saturable Absorbing Materials for Q-Switching Neodymium Lasers
Descriptive Note:
Final rept. 1 Feb 1971-31 Jan 1972
Corporate Author:
IBM FEDERAL SYSTEMS DIV GAITHERSBURG MD
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1972-05-01
Pagination or Media Count:
56.0
Abstract:
The report describes investigative work performed on IBM proprietary dye 106-5 for Q-switching neodymium lasers. This dye was used in solution form to Q-switch a neodymium glass laser to deliver a peak power of over 100 megawatts in approximately 20 nanoseconds and in plastic thin film form to Q- switch a flashlamp pumped neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet NdYAG laser to deliver a peak power of over 3 megawatts with a 15 nonoseconds pulsewidth. A plastic thin film with liquid cooling also proved to be useful in Q-switching a multiple pulse NdYAG laser. The selection of solvents and solid host materials for this dye, as well as the construction of the liquid-dye cell and the plastic-dye film, are discussed. Results on durability and temperature stability tests for both the dye solution and the plastic-dye film are also included. Based on the present results, design recommendations are made for improving the performance of the Q-switch dye in a solution form, as well as in a solid matrix.
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Lasers and Masers