A NEW CLASS OF GARNET-STRUCTURED CRYSTALS OFFER POTENTIAL FOR A NEW CLASS OF HIGH-POWER, TUNABLE, SOLID-STATE LASER MATERIALS.

A NEW CLASS OF GARNET-STRUCTURED CRYSTALS OFFER POTENTIAL FOR A NEW CLASS OF HIGH-POWER, TUNABLE, SOLID-STATE LASER MATERIALS. A REPORT FROM A SOVIET GROUP AT A RECENT CONFERENCE SHOWED A THREE-FOLD SLOPE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT FOR THE CR(3+)-ND(3+) CODOPED GARNET CRYSTAL AS COMPARED TO THE INDUSTRIAL STANDARD ND:YAG CRYSTAL. AT THE PRESENT TIMETHERE IS NO COMMERCIAL SOURCE OF THESE GARNET-STRUCTURED CRYSTALS. IT IS INTENDED TO SHOW THE FEASIBILITY OF GROWTH OF GD(3)GA(5)O(12) (GGG) CRYSTALS BY THE HEAT EXCHANGER METHOD (HEM). THESE CRYSTALS WILL BE DOPED WITH CR AND TESTED FOR LASER APPLICATIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THE CR DOPANT IN TRIVALENT STATE WITH UNIFORM CONCENTRATION IN THE HOST CRYSTAL THAT IS FREE OF SCATTERING CENTERS AND STRAIN. IT IS INTENDED TO GROW 5CM. DIAMETER CRYSTALS. ONCE FEASIBILITY IS ESTABLISHED THIS WORK WILL BE USED FOR GROWING OTHER GARNET-STRUCTURED CRYSTALS AS WELL AS CO-DOPEDCRYSTALS. THE HEAT EXCHANGER METHOD (HEM) HAS BEEN ADAPTED FOR THE GROWTH OF A NUMBER OF HIGH QUALITY CRYSTALS, "VIZ.",SAPPHIRE, SILICON, RUBY, CO:MGF(2), ND:YAG AND TI:AL(2)O(3).