Lasing Medium??

[frank_1257]

Dear Nanowatt, I am findng a YAG water cooled cavity is the most expensive component then the laser diode, and its driver current source, etc etc, many of the optical components even lenses and crystals($50-200) can be had for a fraction of their original mfg pricing on ebay.

The neodium is added in varying low percentages to the crystal it is not what the crystal is primarily composed of a glass such as Yttritium Aluminum Garnet. In higher power lasers percentages drop from several points to 0.6 percent. YAG can withstand higher power pumping than can Yttritium Ortho Vanadate YVO4

[abbylee]

I dont think so, due to its toxicity in small quanities, but directly reactor pumped XE, AR, KR, and CO2 lasers have been built, yes, with the lasers in the reactor core. The noble gasses have big enough atomic cross sections that this works, and yes I can find the nasa publication cite for this if u dont believe me.

Steve

PS some NASA examples of your tax dollars at work. From the Nasa Reports Server: The reactor pumped hene is gonna have a hard time fitting in the bar code scanner. These were 4 outta say 100.

Nuclear excitation of CO2 and CO
Author(s): Jalufka, N. W.
Abstract: A technology assessment of CO2 and CO nuclear pumped laser experiments is presented.
NASA Center: Langley Research Center
Publication Year: 1979
Added to NTRS: 2006-08-03
Accession Number: 80N13447; Document ID: 19800005192
CW nuclear pumped lasing of 3He-Ne

Author(s): Carter, B. D.
Abstract: The results of a study on the CW nuclear pumped lasing of the He-Ne system are presented.
Preliminary experiments measured single pass gain for the 6328.2A laser transition at neutron fluxes up to 1 x 10 to the 14th power ...
NASA Center: NASA (non Center Specific)
Publication Year: 1979
Added to NTRS: 2006-08-03
Accession Number: 80N13442; Document ID: 19800005187

University of Illinois nuclear pumped laser program
Author(s): Miley, G. H.
Abstract: The development of nuclear pumped lasers with improved efficiency, energy storage capability, and UF6 volume pumping is reviewed. Results of nuclear pumped laser experiments using a TRIGA-type pulsed reactor are outlined.
NASA Center: NASA (non Center Specific)
Publication Year: 1979
Added to NTRS: 2006-08-03
Accession Number: 80N13444; Document ID: 19800005189

Nuclear pumped laser research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Author(s): Russell, G. R.
Abstract: Using a partially nuclear excited xenon flashlamp to pump an iodine laser, laser pulse shapes were analyzed with and without nuclear flashlamp augmentation. The pulse shapes indicate that the deposition of nuclear energy is ...
NASA Center: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Publication Year: 1979
Added to NTRS: 2006-08-03

All barcode scanner uses infrared？

[norty303]

What an amazing necro-post.

Robs post at #3 is actually a really good read, and shows just how far we/laser have come in the last 6 years!