Hi everyone! So, I'm new to the community here, and just getting warmed up in the area of laser physics. I have a few questions about Nd:YAG lasers and homebrew resonator optics.
First off, I just purchased an Nd:YAG crystal, new in OEM packaging, 4.8mm dia. and 90mm length. Unfortunately, the only information that I was given was that it's suspected to be a replacement for use in Iridex (slash Laserscope?) laser system, I imagine 1064 nm for dermatology work. I haven't gotten far yet with finding further details, so I guess I kind of gambled here, as I don't have a figure for the % doping Nd, nor do I know if it has an AR coating. Reading Sam's article on homebrew systems and SS lasers in general, however, I remain optimistic!
Now, my question to all of you is this - how critical is the quality of the resonator's mirrors? I've seen Chinese mirrors - dielectric, BK7 material... however, they have a surface quality of 60/40 scratch-dig (which according to this page: Scratch-dig | Optical technologies is not so great!) and a flatness of L/4. The page I referenced here says that such a mirror may get by for "low power laser and imaging applications," but how critical is this for a YAG system that could reach considerable peak power, perhaps even as high as a MW? Has anyone actually purchased mirrors like this? 2 pieces of Nd:YAG laser reflect output mirror (1064nm) | eBay
Just as a side, has anyone here had luck in making a functional system from unknown Nd:YAG rods in a comparable size, and using reasonably inexpensive (I'm hoping <$50) flash tubes and optics? I'm beginning to appreciate just how expensive Nd:YAG systems can get!
Thanks so much!
First off, I just purchased an Nd:YAG crystal, new in OEM packaging, 4.8mm dia. and 90mm length. Unfortunately, the only information that I was given was that it's suspected to be a replacement for use in Iridex (slash Laserscope?) laser system, I imagine 1064 nm for dermatology work. I haven't gotten far yet with finding further details, so I guess I kind of gambled here, as I don't have a figure for the % doping Nd, nor do I know if it has an AR coating. Reading Sam's article on homebrew systems and SS lasers in general, however, I remain optimistic!
Now, my question to all of you is this - how critical is the quality of the resonator's mirrors? I've seen Chinese mirrors - dielectric, BK7 material... however, they have a surface quality of 60/40 scratch-dig (which according to this page: Scratch-dig | Optical technologies is not so great!) and a flatness of L/4. The page I referenced here says that such a mirror may get by for "low power laser and imaging applications," but how critical is this for a YAG system that could reach considerable peak power, perhaps even as high as a MW? Has anyone actually purchased mirrors like this? 2 pieces of Nd:YAG laser reflect output mirror (1064nm) | eBay
Just as a side, has anyone here had luck in making a functional system from unknown Nd:YAG rods in a comparable size, and using reasonably inexpensive (I'm hoping <$50) flash tubes and optics? I'm beginning to appreciate just how expensive Nd:YAG systems can get!
Thanks so much!