Patent ID: 7633981
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: C30B,H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a layer of inactive laser species in the near surface region of a laser rod using substitutional dopant ions, the laser rod having a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, the method comprising: providing an as-grown reduced-valence-state laser rod having pre-active substitutional ions therein; placing a pre-selected chemical constituent into intimate contact with the surface of the laser rod, the pre-selected chemical constituents including the substitutional dopant ions; and diffusing the substitutional dopant ions into the laser rod as substitutional ions taking the place of the laser pre-active substitutional ions that reside in the laser rod to effect an exchange process, thereby forming a tailored concentration profile of pre-active laser ions in the laser rod, wherein the concentration of pre-active laser ions is higher in the central region as compared to the peripheral region; wherein the pre-active laser species is Yb2+; wherein the substitutional dopant species is Zr4+.