Oct 10 2013
Thulium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Tm:YAG) laser is used as a suitable means to produce high power laser emission from the 3F4 – 3F6 transition. It operates in a continuous wave mode at a wavelength of 2010 nm, and has high absorption characteristics at this wavelength. As a result, it is widely used for surgical cutting and coagulation applications.
The quantum efficiency of Tm:YAG laser can be increased through Tm-Tm ion cross relaxation, where an excited thulium in the 3H4 state decomposes to 3F4 state. Thus, Tm:YAG laser exhibits narrow broadened absorption features when cooled at cryogenic temperatures. This property has been proved to have significant importance in high time-bandwidth product signal processing applications, and real-time broad-band spectral analysis for electronic applications.
Laser Properties
| Laser Properties |
| Laser type |
Solid |
| Pump source |
Laser diode |
| Operating wavelength |
2 µm |
Physical and Chemical Properties
| Physical and Chemical Properties |
| Crystal structure |
Cubic |
| Melting point |
1965°C |
| Mohs hardness |
8.25 |
| Thermal conductivity |
11.2 W/mK |
| Specific heat capacity |
0.59 J/gK |
| Young's modulus |
335 GPa |
Applications
The Tm:YAG laser is currently being applied in urology for resection of the prostrate. The output power of the Tm:YAG laser can be steadily increased to enhance tissue cutting and hemostasis without any mechanical damage. The laser is also used in photodynamic therapy for treating bladder and prostrate cancer.
It is also used in LIDAR, high time-bandwidth product signal processing, military, meteorology and other laser pumping applications.
References