Abstract
A technology has been developed for the production of large active elements made from KGSS
0180/35 neodymium phosphate glass (with a neodymium ion concentration of NNd53.5 x1020cm-3), iintended for powerful pulsed lasers with high output radiation energy. The
neodymium glasses were melted using a two-stage or single-stage process with high-purity
reagents in crucibles made from dispersion-strengthened platinum or a newly developed highstrength
cristobalite refractory, which, along with other process methods, makes it possible to
obtain glass that contains no metallic platinum inclusions. The main elements of the process
for synthesizing neodymium glass are deep oxidation of the melt with dry oxygen in order to
convert traces of platinum and iron to higher valence states and simultaneously eliminate
hydroxyl group impurities, as well as the use of a nonplatinum refractory to fabricate the
glassware. The resulting glasses are characterized by high optical homogeneity, high
luminescence lifetime of the neodymium ( t~300 us), radiation strength to 33 J/cm2 when the
exciting pulse width is 3?4 ns, and a nonactive absorption coefficient at the lasing
wavelength of about 0.0015 cm-1. The required high-quality surface processing of the active
elements is provided by fine annealing of the blanks and by using grinding?polishing
equipment with program control.
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