Nanocrystalline Nd-YAG for Laser Generators

Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd-YAG) is being increasingly used for laser applications both within the realm of National Defense Organizations and civilian technologies. Currently only single crystals of this material are used which aredifficult to prepare and do not fully meet the extreme service requirements in many critical applications. Compacted polycrystals of Nd-YAG have not been prepared cost-effectively although they have been demonstrated in lab-scale to perform better thansingle crystal forms.In this SBIR Phase I research, Materials Modification Inc. (MMI) proposes to develop a novel scaleable procedure to prepare nanocrystals of Nd-YAG that will be sintered to full density using MMI's proprietary compaction process. Additionally, MMI will alsoprove that the nanostructured dense compacts that are prepared are qualitatively superior and can replace single crystal Nd-YAG in laser applications. Within the defense domains, polycrystalline Nd-YAG will find application in diode pumped solid state lasers used in sensors, weapons and missile guidance systems. They will also find applications such as range finders and target designators. Within thecivilian domains the low-cost laser systems based on this material will find a plethora of applications notably in personal computers, CD-ROMs with laser diodes, laser printers, modems, 3D optical surface mapping, micro-machining, laser Doppler anemometersand imaging systems