Heat generation in Nd:YAG and Yb:YAG

The fractional thermal loading, the ratio of heat generated to absorbed energy, at a 6.5 at.% doped Yb:YAG crystal diode pumped at 0.943 mu m has been measured to be <0.11 under conditions of no laser extraction. This quantity ranged from 0.37-0.43 in 1.04 at.% doped Nd:YAG pumped at 0.808 mu m. Under conditions of laser extraction, the fractional thermal loading in Yb:YAG is expected to remain nearly constant, whereas that in Nd:YAG at 1.064 mu m can be expected to drop to approximately 0.32.<
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