Edge-cladding glasses for solid-state laser garnet crystals

Abstract

A range of glass compositions has been identified in the PbO-Bi2O3-CuO-Al2O3-SiO2 system which will be applied as absorbent claddings to Nd3+ and Cr3+ co-doped gadolinium scandium gallium garnet and Nd3+-doped gadolinium gallium garnet crystal slabs for high-power laser applications. Coefficients of thermal expansion and refractive indices at 1.06 μm of the cladding match those of the crystals. Absorption coefficients are between 30 and 40 cm−1. Estimates of stress birefringence in the crystalline medium indicate that values below 10 nm/cm are achievable with cladding layers of 1 mm thickness and crystal slabs of 50–100 mm width.