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Neodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride

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Neodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride(Nd:YLF) is alasing mediumforarc lamp-pumpedanddiode-pumpedsolid-state lasers.TheYLFcrystal (LiYF4) is naturallybirefringent,and commonly used laser transitions occur at 1047 nm and 1053 nm.[1]

It is used inQ-switchedsystems in part due to its relatively long fluorescence lifetime. As withNd:YAG lasers,harmonic generationis frequently employed with Q-switched Nd:YLF to produce shorter wavelengths. A common application of frequency-doubled Nd:YLF pulses is to pump ultrafast Ti:Sapphire chirped-pulse amplifiers.

Neodymium-doped YLF can provide higher pulse energies than Nd:YAG for repetition rates of a few kHz or less. Compared to Nd:YAG, the Nd:YLF crystal is verybrittle and fractures easily. It is also slightly water-soluble— a YLF laser rod may very slowly dissolve in cooling water which surrounds it.[1]

Physical and chemical properties

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Materials: Nd:LiYF4

Modulus of Elasticity: 85 GPa

Crystal Structure: Tetragonal

Cell Parameters: a=5.16 Å, c=10.85 Å

Melting Point: 819 °C

Mohs Hardness: 4~5[2]

Density: 3.99 g/cm^3

Thermal Conductivity: 0.063 W/cm/K

Specific Heat: 0.79 J/g/K

See also

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References

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  1. ^Pollak, T.; Wing, W.; Grasso, R.; Chicklis, E.; Jenssen, H. (1982). "CW laser operation of Nd:YLF".IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics.18(2). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): 159–163.Bibcode:1982IJQE...18..159P.doi:10.1109/jqe.1982.1071512.ISSN0018-9197.
  2. ^Nd:YLF Crystal