Laser Crystals
Nd:YAG Laser Crystals
Nd:YAG rods and crystal components for diode- and lamp-pumped lasers, with application-specific end-face geometries and coatings.
- Germany-based supplier and manufacturing partner
- Manufacturing to customer specifications
- Optical inspection and measurement against specified requirements
- From single components and prototypes to repeat supply
Product overview
Custom Nd:YAG rods and crystal components can be specified by Nd dopant concentration, crystal orientation, dimensions, end-face geometry, surface requirements, and wavelength-specific optical coatings.
Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) is a well-established solid-state laser gain medium, most commonly used for laser operation at 1064 nm. Its combination of thermal conductivity, mechanical robustness, and stable optical properties makes it suitable for a wide range of diode-pumped and lamp-pumped laser systems.
With suitable nonlinear frequency-conversion optics, 1064 nm output can be frequency-doubled to 532 nm. Nd:YAG can also operate on other laser transitions, including 946 nm; in an appropriately designed laser system, 946 nm output can be frequency-doubled to 473 nm.
For existing Nd:YAG rods that need end-face work, see our laser rod repair and refurbishment service. Feasibility depends on the rod condition and required final specification.
Key advantages
- Good thermal conductivity
- High mechanical strength
- Favorable thermal shock characteristics
- Four-level gain medium for the 1064 nm transition
Typical specifications
| Crystal orientation | <111> |
|---|---|
| Wavefront distortion | λ/10 per inch, measured by double-pass interferometer at 633 nm |
| Extinction ratio | 30 dB for Ø3–6.35 mm rods with lengths up to 100 mm 28 dB for Ø7–10 mm rods with lengths up to 100 mm For other dimensions, specification subject to confirmation. |
| Diameter tolerance | ±0.025 mm |
| Length tolerance | ±0.5 mm |
| Barrel finish | Fine ground, typically 50–80 µin RMS; polished or grooved barrel available on request |
| Surface flatness | < λ/10 at 633 nm |
| Parallelism | ≤ 10 arcsec |
| Perpendicularity | ≤ 5 arcmin |
| Surface quality | 10-5 scratch-dig |
| Chamfer | ≤0.1 mm at 45° |
| Clear aperture | Extend over the entire faces to the chamfered edges |
| Coating | AR Coating R < 0.25% per surface at 1064 nm LIDT: > 750 MW/cm² at 1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz HR/HT Dichroic Coating R > 99.8% at 1064 nm T > 95% at 808 nm Other coating designs are available on request. |
Properties
- Chemical Formula
- Host crystal: Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG); Dopant: Nd³⁺
- Crystal Structure
- Cubic
- Lattice Constants
- 12.01 Å
- Nd³⁺ Concentration
- ~ 1.2 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³
- Melting Point
- 1970 °C
- Density
- 4.56 g/cm³
- Mohs Hardness
- 8.5
- Refractive Index
- 1.82 at 1064 nm
- Thermal Expansion Coefficient
- 7.8 × 10⁻⁶ /K [111], 0–250 °C
- Thermal Conductivity
- 14 W/m/K, 20°C; 10.5 W/m/K, 100°C
- Lasing Wavelength
- 1064 nm
- Stimulated Emission Cross Section
- 2.8 × 10⁻¹⁹ cm²
- Relaxation Time of Terminal Lasing Level
- 30 ns
- Radiative Lifetime
- 550 µs
- Fluorescence Lifetime
- 230 µs
- Loss Coefficient
- 0.003 cm⁻¹ @ 1064 nm
- Effective Emission Cross Section
- 2.8 × 10⁻¹⁹ cm²
- Pump Wavelength
- 807.5–808 nm
- Absorption Band at Pump Wavelength
- 1 nm
- Linewidth
- 0.6 nm
- Polarized Emission
- Unpolarized
Representative examples
- Ø2 × 15 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø3 × 100 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø6.35 × 152.4 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø9 × 110 mm, plano–plano end faces, grooved barrel, AR @ 1064 nm
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- 3 × 3 × 8 mm, plano–plano end faces, dual-wavelength AR @ 808/1064 nm
- 4 × 4 × 10 mm, plano / Brewster-cut end faces
- Ø5 × 15 mm, plano / 1° wedged end face, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø5 × 127 mm, convex / convex end faces
- Ø8 × 160 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø3 × 10 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø3 × 50 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø4 × 50 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø4 × 80 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø4 × 110 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø5 × 8 mm, plano–plano end faces, dual-wavelength AR @ 808/1064 nm
- Ø5 × 15 mm, plano–plano end faces, dual-wavelength AR @ 808/1064 nm
- Ø5 × 76.5 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø5 × 80 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø5 × 115 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø6.35 × 101.6 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø6.35 × 130 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø7 × 115 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
- Ø8 × 120 mm, plano–plano end faces, AR @ 1064 nm
Typical applications
- Industrial laser material processing systems, including laser marking, welding, drilling, cutting and trimming
- Medical and aesthetic laser systems, including laser therapy and cosmetology applications
- Scientific and laboratory laser systems
- Laser rangefinding and measurement systems
- Replacement and maintenance of existing Nd:YAG laser systems
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RFQ PREPARATION
What to send for a quote
Please send your drawing or technical specification together with the following information.
- Required Nd dopant concentration and crystal orientation
- Dimensions, tolerances, and end-face geometry
- Surface quality, flatness and wavefront requirements
- Barrel finish and optical coating specification
- Required quantity