https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202430906024
Visualization of inhomogeneities in Ti:Sapphire laser medium
1 Technical University of Liberec, Studentská 1402/2 461 17 Liberec 1, Liberec, Czech Republic
2 TOPTEC, Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Za Slovankou 1782/3, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
3 CRYTUR, spol. s r.o., Na Lukách 2283, 511 01 Turnov, Czech Republic
* Corresponding author: vojtech.miller@tul.cz
Published online: 31 October 2024
This work presents innovative methods for visualizing inhomogeneities and stress distributions in Ti:Sa (titanium-doped sapphire) crystals, which are challenging to assess due to their birefringent nature. Two experimental approaches were developed: the first enables two-dimensional mapping of the Figure of Merit (FoM) and absorption at wavelengths of 532 nm, 780 nm, and 1550 nm, revealing variations in absorption across the crystal. The second experiment utilizes circularly polarized light and polarization imaging to detect internal stress and defects. The results demonstrate the successful visualization of lateral absorption, stress, and core features within the crystals, offering insights into their optical quality. These techniques provide new possibility for evaluation of laser materials, with significant implications for improving the manufacturing and selection processes of Ti:Sa crystals in advanced laser applications.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
