Northrop Grumman Synoptics is now offering composite solid-state laser rods, plates and slabs in YAG, ceramic YAG, YLF and YVO4. Bonded solid-state laser parts are produced from Nd:YAG, Er:YAG, and CTH:YAG, each either end-capped or edge clad with undoped YAG.
End capped solid state laser composites increase laser operating powers by providing an inactive ‘cool’ buffer for slab or rod coatings from the ‘hot’ actively lasing doped portion. They also improve the optical performance characteristics of solid-state laser systems.
The composites are high strength and avoid bond interface separations and improve optical clarity for low loss interfaces. They exhibit wavefront distortion of less than λ/16 per inch, and high extinction ratio greater than 25dB.