Our colleagues, Sanin Zulić, Danijela Rostohar, and Tomáš Mocek, together with Jörg Körner from Friedrich-Schiller University and researchers from other respected German research institutions have presented a paper on compact, diode-pumped, unstable cavity Yb:YAG laser and its application in laser shock peening. Their results have been published in Optics Express (Volume 29, Issue 10).
The researchers presented a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG q-switched laser system with more than 1 J output energy in a 10 ns pulse. For suppression of amplified spontaneous emission, a ceramic laser medium with a Cr:YAG cladding was used. The laser design was based on a single unstable resonator using the gain guiding principle for generating a hexagonal tophat shaped output pulse and allows for a compact setup. In this configuration a very high optical to optical efficiency of up to 37 % was obtained.
For its simplicity and compactness this laser system has a significant potential to be developed into a laser for various scientific and industrial applications. The test conducted within this study indicates, that the proposed system could be well deployed for a compact, high efficient LSP treatment laser system.
Laser shock peening is considered to be a great method for improving mechanical properties of various materials. It improves fatigue and corrosion resistance and reduces downtime of machinery. Check the possibilities of laser shock peening in the HiLASE Centre.
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