Interferometric measurement of the temperature coefficient of the refractive index dn/dT and the coefficient of thermal expansion of Pr:YLF laser crystals
- We report interferometric measurements of the temperature coefficient of the refractive index (dn=dT) and the coefficient of thermal expansion (a) of a praseodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Pr:YLF) crystal and of a fused silica reference sample. Our phase-resolved interferometric method yields a large number of data points and thus allows a precise measurement and a good error estimation. Furthermore, both dn=dT and a are obtained simultaneously from a single measurement which reduces errors that can occur in separate measurements. Over the temperature range from 20 °C to 80 °C, the value of dn=dT of Pr:YLF decreases from -5.2 x 10-6 /K to -6.2 x 10-6 /K for the ordinary refractive index and from -7.6 x 10-6 /K to -8.6 x 10-6 /K for the extraordinary refractive index. The coefficient of thermal expansion for the a-axis of Pr:YLF increases from 16.4 x 10-6 /K to 17.8 x 10-6 /K over the same temperature range.
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This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-22-25-30683. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
| Author: | Orestis Kazasidis, Ulrich Wittrock |
|---|---|
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-7720 |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25974/fhms-772 |
| DOI of original publication: | https://doi/org/10.1364/OE.22.030683 |
| Parent Title (German): | Opt. Expr. |
| Publisher: | Optical Society of America |
| Document Type: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Date of Publication (online): | 2014/12/05 |
| Year of first Publication: | 2014 |
| Provider of the Publication Server: | FH Münster - University of Applied Sciences |
| Release Date: | 2014/12/05 |
| Tag: | laser crystal; praseodymium; refractive index change; thermal expansion coefficient; yttrium lithium fluoride |
| Volume: | 22 |
| First Page: | 30683 |
| Last Page: | 30696 |
| Faculties: | Physikingenieurwesen (PHY) |
| Dewey Decimal Classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik |
| Publication list: | Wittrock, Ulrich |
| Licence (German): |  Zweitveroeffentlichung |