Neodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride
Neodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Nd:YLF) is a lasing medium for arc lamp-pumped and diode-pumped solid-state lasers. The YLF crystal (LiYF4) is naturally birefringent, and commonly used laser transitions occur at 1047 nm and 1053 nm.{{cite journal | last1=Pollak | first1=T. | last2=Wing | first2=W. | last3=Grasso | first3=R. | last4=Chicklis | first4=E. | last5=Jenssen | first5=H. | title=CW laser operation of Nd:YLF | journal=IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics | publisher=Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) | volume=18 | issue=2 | year=1982 | issn=0018-9197 | doi=10.1109/jqe.1982.1071512 | pages=159–163| bibcode=1982IJQE...18..159P }}
It is used in Q-switched systems in part due
to its relatively long fluorescence lifetime.
As with Nd:YAG lasers, harmonic generation is 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 very brittle
and fractures easily. It is also slightly water-soluble — a YLF laser rod may very
slowly dissolve in cooling water which surrounds it.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173543/http://www.leelaser.com/pdf/Nd-YLF%20vs%20Nd-YAG.pdf]
Physical and chemical properties
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[https://www.aogcrystal.com/products/laser-crystals/ndylf-crystal Nd:YLF Crystal]
Density: 3.99 g/cm^3
Thermal Conductivity: 0.063 W/cm/K
Specific Heat: 0.79 J/g/K
See also
References
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{{neodymium compounds}}
{{yttrium compounds}}
{{lithium compounds}}
{{Solid-state laser}}
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