Lamp-Pumped Solid State Lasers for Demanding Use

Did You Know?

The first working laser, constructed by Theodore Maiman in 1960, was a ruby laser pumped with a flash lamp. Lamp-pumped lasers utilize laser pumping as the act of energy transfer from an external source into the gain medium of a laser. They are commonly used for applications demanding higher energies, as lamp-pumped lasers are able to generate very high pump powers. Additionally, lamp-pumped lasers offer low price per watt of generated power compared to laser diodes. They are also relatively sturdy and can handle voltage and current spikes.
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Frequently Asked Questions

A lamp-pumped solid-state laser uses a flashlamp or arc lamp as the pump source to excite the ions in a solid gain medium such as Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, or Nd:Glass. The broadband light from the lamp is absorbed by the dopant ions, which are driven into an excited state; population inversion is then achieved within the resonator cavity, and stimulated emission at a specific wavelength (e.g., 1064 nm for Nd:YAG) generates the laser output. Optical components such as reflectors, cooling channels, and resonator mirrors are optimized to extract energy efficiently from the pumped rod or slab.

Overview of Lamp-Pumped Solid State Lasers

Lamp-Pumped solid state lasers use flashlamps or arc lamps as the excitation source to pump a crystalline gain medium such as Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, or Nd:Glass. These Lamp-Pumped systems are valued for high pulse energies, robustness, and compatibility with harmonic generation for visible and UV outputs.

Unlike diode-pumped architectures, Lamp-Pumped designs typically feature larger pump cavities and water or forced-air cooling. They are well suited for applications where high single-pulse energy or relatively long pulse durations are more critical than ultimate electrical-to-optical efficiency.

Typical Specifications and Configurations

On FindLight you will find Lamp-Pumped laser sources with a range of optical and mechanical parameters:

  • Wavelengths: Fundamental 1064 nm (Nd:YAG) with common harmonics at 532 nm, 355 nm, and 266 nm via internal or external nonlinear crystals.
  • Pulsing: Q-switched operation with pulse durations from ~5 ns to several hundred ns; repetition rates from single-shot up to tens or hundreds of Hz.
  • Energy and Power: Pulse energies from a few mJ to >1 J per pulse, with average powers typically from a few watts to several tens of watts depending on repetition rate.
  • Beam Quality: TEM00 or multimode output; M² values and divergence are specified for precise beam delivery design.
  • Cooling and Electrical: Air- or water-cooled Lamp-Pumped heads, with dedicated power supplies supporting high-voltage lamp driving and trigger inputs.

These Lamp-Pumped light sources are used in laser marking, drilling and cutting of metals and ceramics, LIBS, LIDAR transmitters, pump sources for OPOs or dye lasers, tattoo and pigment removal, and general laboratory spectroscopy.

Buyer Guidance on FindLight

When selecting a Lamp-Pumped laser on FindLight, compare pulse energy, repetition rate, wavelength options (fundamental and harmonics), beam quality, and cooling requirements against your process or experimental needs. Check electrical interface standards, trigger and sync options, and cavity lifetime parameters such as lamp operating hours and replacement procedures.

For each Lamp-Pumped model, review datasheets, mechanical drawings, and available accessories (harmonic modules, beam delivery optics, power supplies). You can request quotes or technical clarification from multiple suppliers directly through FindLight with no registration required, enabling efficient evaluation of suitable Lamp-Pumped light sources for your project.