The
yttrium aluminium garnet(YAG) laser is a
solid state laser
that use a YAG
crystal as the lasing media. The YAG crystal
is often
treated with
neodymium to get the desired output
wavelength. The YAG crystal is placed in a standard laser
resonator cavity( between two mirrors, one of which is
semitransparent). When the
crystal is exposed to a high
energy light pulse(like from a
xenon tube) or
constant high power light source, the crystals atoms will
emit
photons. some of the photons will
escape through the
sides of the crystal rod, but some will bounce between the
mirrors, and stimulate the
atoms to send out more
photons
(
This laser type usually emits
infra red light at a wavelength
of 1064
nanometer.
It is often used in
industry as a
cutting or
drilling
tool and in medicine in surgical applications.
This laser type is typically more dangerous than for example
the
HeNe laser and the
diode laser
since it's light is
invisible and output
effects of near
1 kilo
watts is not uncommon. This mean that direct contact
with the beam will burn or cut and even a reflex of the beam
can instantly damage the
retina in an eye. Therefore 1064nm
filter glasses must be used if there are any danger of exposure
to reflections.