With the rapid development of solid high power laser technology, the performance requirements of laser dielectric materials are increasing day by day. As a kind of material with unique physical and chemical properties, transparent ceramic has shown great application potential in the laser field due to its advantages of low phonon energy, low thermal expansion coefficient, high thermal conductivity and low damage threshold. Especially in the pursuit of high power, high efficiency and ultra-short pulse output of solid-state lasers, transparent ceramic materials have become the focus of research.
Excellent Properties of Transparent Ceramics
Low phonon energy: This feature helps to reduce non-radiative transition losses during laser transmission and improve laser efficiency.
Low coefficient of thermal expansion: helps to maintain the dimensional stability of the laser medium under high power operation, reducing the optical distortion caused by thermal stress.
High thermal conductivity: it can effectively dissipate the heat generated during the laser operation, avoiding the performance decline and component damage caused by heat accumulation.
Low damage threshold (here it should be miswritten as "high damage threshold", corrected as "high damage threshold") : Being able to withstand high light intensity without being destroyed is the key to the preparation of high-power lasers.
Preparation Technology of Transparent Ceramics
Challenge of high melting point and use of phase change point: The melting point of this material is as high as 2400℃, which is difficult to be prepared by single crystal growth process. However, its phase transition point is lower than the melting point, which makes it possible to achieve the preparation of transparent ceramic materials at a lower temperature of 1500℃-1700℃ through the ceramic preparation process.
Preparation of large volume gain media: The ceramic preparation process not only reduces the difficulty of preparation, but also makes it easy to obtain large volume and high quality gain media, which is crucial for the construction of high power laser systems.
Application Prospect of High Power Laser
High power output: The high thermal conductivity of transparent ceramics and the characteristics of easy preparation into large volumes provide a material basis for achieving high power laser output.
High efficiency and ultra-short pulse: Its excellent physical properties make itself an ideal material for the preparation of high-efficiency and ultra-short pulse lasers, which is expected to promote the wide application of laser technology in scientific research, industry, medical and other fields.
In summary, transparent ceramics have shown broad application prospects in the field of high power laser due to their unique physical and chemical properties and relatively simple preparation process. With the continuous progress of material science and laser technology, transparent ceramic materials will play an increasingly important role in improving laser performance and expanding laser application fields. In the future, by further optimizing the preparation process, exploring new material systems and in-depth study of its laser physical properties, it is expected to promote high-power laser technology to a new height, and bring more scientific and technological progress and innovative applications for human society.
