Despite Neodymium laser systems being well-established and ever popular, there is motivation to improve gain and scale in inexpensive host materials such as Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) and Fine-Grain Al2O3. Thermal management through host materials with improved thermal properties is a promising pathway to stronger pumping and subsequently higher gain. Benefits of polycrystalline ceramic gain media, as well as various ceramic fabrication methods will be discussed. While polycrystalline Nd:YAG can be fabricated using traditional densification techniques of sintering and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), in order to create polycrystalline Nd:Al2O3, one must turn to Current-Activated Pressure-Assisted Densification (CAPAD), a method of ceramic fabrication that utilizes high heating rates and pressure to reduce hold temperatures and times, reducing diffusion and subsequent grain growth.
This research looks to enhance our understanding of the laser-material interaction within silicon, considering variations in free carrier density. Silicon exhibits distinct optical behaviors, ranging from transparency to non-transparency, contingent on its doping concentration, particularly at a 1064 nm wavelength. Our experimental investigation delves into the quantitative assessment of damage size and the qualitative characterization of damage morphology induced by singlepulse 1064 nm laser irradiation. In this experiment, we vary laser intensities and focal depths to show their influence on the damage features of single crystal silicon with varying doping concentrations. The damage size and qualitative characteristics can be used to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the laser damage. Additionally, we can see when the damaged silicon is exhibiting pure melting or a form of ordered damage at higher intensities. The findings of this study give insight into the optimization of laser processing techniques that require precise control over material ablation, and phase change as cutting and material joining. Furthermore, the insights garnered from this work contribute to a broader understanding of the interplay between laser parameters and material properties. This study represents a move towards unlocking the potential of laser-matter interactions in shaping the future of silicon advanced manufacturing technologies.
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