Novel Crystal Growth Method Enables Eye-Safe Laser
MOSCOW, Russia, April 18, 2016 — A compact, eye-safe laser light source has been developed for practical applications in medicine, communications and ranging. The solid-state laser emits in the 1500- to 1600-nm range, and is based on a novel laboratory growth technology for single crystals. As-grown (Er,Yb): GdAl3(BO3)4 crystal created by using high-temperature solution growth on dipped seeds (a). Courtesy of Nikolay Leonyuk. Based on yttrium gadolinium borate crystals, the laser has a lifetime of up to 100,000 hours.