Large silicate Nd:glass laser rod, 45 mm dia. x 680 mm length, new, vintage

Description

Professional, very large silicate Nd:glass laser rod, 45 mm dia. x 680 mm length, flat - flat ends at cca. 5 degrees from normal to rod axis to avoid positive feedback, uncoated
(pictures #1 - #4; rod color is different because of different illumination conditions - daylight vs. artificial light)
. Vintage (mid 70’), new, never used, in original box, opened, type GLS-1 laser glass rod, made in Russian Federation. The neodymium oxide (Nd
2
O
3
) doping is about 2 % by mass (or 1.9 x 10
-20
cm
-3
Nd
3+
ion concentration) for this laser glass (From: B. Denker, E. Shklovsky, eds., Handbook of Solid-State Lasers: Materials, Systems, and Applications, Woodhead Publ. Ltd., UK, 2013, pp. 121, Table 5.2). In perfect optical condition, no scratches or chips, pictured each end
(pictures #5 - #7)
. Originally intended to be used as amplifier in a large R&D laser for plasma studies, but never used. As oscillator, expect to obtain 500 - 800 J in free running, 150 - 350 J in Q-switch, 50 - 100 J in mode-locking (ps pulses), appropriately pumped (4 x 20 kJ flash lamps, circular cylinder pumping chamber). Similar rods were used for scientific plasma mirror experiments. Good for scientific, industrial, educational laser experiments, or
as collectible for laser history
.