1. Nd:YLF Laser
Michiel de Jong

2. Contents Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF lasers Build-up of the YLF laser
Energy level scheme
Research using the YLF laser

3. Nd:YAG laser Neodymium ion doped in Y3Al5O12 crystal
Pumping with GaAs laser diode
High gain and energy output by using Q-switching
Crystal homogeneously broadens the laser transition

4. Q-switching
Gain medium is pumped until in reaches Isat without presence of cavity
Cavity is “switched-on”, thereby greatly increasing the quality factor

5. Nd:YLF Laser LiYF4 crystal Principle identical to Nd:YAG laser
Twice the τu and thus Q-switching even more effective
Crystal has low thermal birefringence

6. Energy level Scheme Pumping from 4I9/2 to 4F5/2 Relaxation to 4F3/2
Transition to 4I13/2 and 4I11/2
Relaxation to ground level

7. Applications
Materials processing
Medical applications

8. Applications
Laser targeting
Pumping other lasers

9. Publications Elsevier, 2008
Thermal stress effects of the diode-end-pumped Nd:YLF slab
Zhe Ma, Jiancun Gao, Daijun Li, Junlin Li, Nianle Wu and Keming Du
Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing , China
EdgeWave GmbH, Schumanstrasse 18B, Würselen 52146, Germany