Ruby
Laser Crystals
Ruby -- dramatically demonstrated as the world’s first operating laser
over 40 years ago -- continues to be a primary selection to provide
intense, high-powered pulses of visible spectrum energy. A stable
material with superior thermal conductivity, ruby combines excellent
physical and optical properties with versatile laser performance
characteristics.
While specific system performance
the 0.05% doping level is by far the one
characteristics of ruby lasers are
most often selected, there are specific
dependent upon cavity design1 the
cases where 0.03% doping is advanta-
optical quality of ruby laser rods is
geous.
paramount. It is entirely necessary to
measurable defects that affect the
threshold and better slope efficiency
refractive index. Saint-Gobain Crystals
of the 0.03% material in this narrow
produces large single crystals of ruby
region.
consistent, clear radial zones of over 25
mm diameter and up to 350 mm long.
• Medical Laser Systems
Cosmetic Dermatology
Tattoo Removal
• Holography
High-brightness camera
power take advantage of the lower
providing superior material with
• Stable Beam Profile
• Lasers operating at, or near, threshold
use ruby crystals that are free of
grown by the Czochralski method,
• High Output Power
694.3 nm
• Cases where full and uniform pumping
systems with long
coherence length
• Materials Processing
Metal Drilling
• Frequency Doubling into the U.V.
of large diameter amplifiers is desired
to achieve the highest-quality beam
• 0.03% and 0.05% Cr
profile with no degradation.
Each rod fulfills original equipment
manufacturer specifications, and will
Saint-Gobain Crystals rigorously inspects
meet exacting special systems
each laser rod. The end finish, flatness
requirements.
and parallelism are checked. Each rod is
then tested interferometrically for optical
It is also important to select the proper
quality to consistently provide laser rods
dopant level for the task. Saint-Gobain
that produce the best beam possible.
Crystals provides ruby laser crystals in
Consistent optical quality; Ruby from
two discrete chromium dopant levels,
Saint-Gobain Crystals makes predictable
0.03% and 0.05% measured by weight
system performance possible.
substitution of Cr2O3 for A12O3. While
Optical and Laser Properties
Laser Action
3 Level Laser
Spontaneous Fluorescence Lifetime
3.0 ms at 300 K
Absorbtion bands
Flashlamp Pumped
Output Wavelength
694.3 nm
Emission Cross Section
S21 = 2.5 x 10-20 cm2
Refractive Index at 694.3 nm
nO = 1.763, ne = 1.755
Chemical Formula
A12O3:Cr
1
Design efficiency; end reflectors, pump source
cooling techniques, cavity length, rod dopant
level and a number of related and interactive
properties of the systems — these topics are
discussed at considerable length in an
extremely useful engineering text, “Solid
State Laser Engineering” (W. Koechner,
Springer-Verlag, New York, 1976).
Ruby
Laser Crystals
Ruby Laser Rod Standard Fabrication Specifications2
Feature
Standard
Special Order
Crystal Orientation
60O within 5O
within 2O
Diameter
Diameter Tolerance
3 mm to 20 mm
+0.0 mm/- 0.05 mm
Available
Available
Length (plano/plano)
Length Tolerance
30 mm to 250 mm
± 0.75 mm
Available up to 350 mm
± 0.50 mm
Perpendicularity of
End Faces (plano/plano)
5 arc-minutes
2 arc-minutes
Parallelism of
End Faces (plano/plano)
10 arc-seconds
Flatness, dia.<15 mm
(plano/plano)
Flatness, dia.≤15 mm
(plano/plano)
0.1 wave maximum
over 90% of aperture
0.2 wave maximum
over 90% of aperture
0.10 wave maximum
over full aperture
Available
Surface Finish at 5X
20-10 (scratch & dig)
10-5 (scratch & dig)
Barrel Finish
400 grit
Polished approx. 80-50
End Face Bevel
0.075 mm to 0.12 mm at 45° angle
Chips
No chips allowed on end face of rod; chip having maximum
length of 0.3 mm permitted to lie in the area of bevel and
barrel surfaces.
End Configurations
plano/plano, plano/wedge, wedge/wedge or Brewster cut
Plano ends can be finished flat, concave or convex
Coatings
Standard coating is AR at 1.064 µm with R<0.25% each face.
Other coatings available.
Notes:
750 S. 32nd Street
Washougal, WA 98671 USA
Telephone:
USA:
1-800-830-3594
Asia:
+81(0)3 3263-0559
Europe: +33 1(0) 64 45 10 15
www.photonic.saint-gobain.com
The data presented is believed to be correct but not guaranteed to be so.
©2004 Saint-Gobain Crystals