Yttrium Aluminum Garnet doped with chromium (Cr:YAG or Cr4+:YAG) Crystals
Yttrium Aluminum Garnet doped with chromium (Cr:YAG or Cr4+:YAG) is an excellent and widely used electro-optic material for passive Q-switching involving (laser diode or lamp-pumped) Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Nd:YVO4 and other Nd (or Yb) doped lasers at 0.8~1.2µm.

With the advantages of chemically stable, durable, UV resistant, good thermal conductivity, high damage threshold ( >500 MW/cm2) and easy operation, Cr:YAG is edging out traditional materials, such as LiF and organic dyes.

Cr:YAG crystal strengths include:
  • Well proven as a passive Q-switch
  • Excellent physical properties - chemically stable, good thermal conductivity and high damage threshold
  • High optical SHG conversion

Cr:YAG crystal applications include:
  • Passive Q-switch for lasers operating at 1µm - Nd and Yb doped YAG, YLF an YVO4
  • Laser medium where ultra-short pulses are required.
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Cr:YAG Crystal - Availability
  • Format:
Rods, Discs and Slabs
  • Sizes:
Cross-section: 14 x 14mm max and Length: 12mm max
Cr:YAG Crystal Properties
Optical Properties Units Value
Doping Concentration mol% 0.03 - 0.65
Initial Transmission % 5 - 95
Transmission/
Transparency Range		 nm 155 - 3200
Optical Homogeneity (δn) cm‾¹ ~ 10‾⁶
Refractive Index (n) @1064nm 1.82
Absorption Coefficient @1064nm cm‾¹ 0.001
Physical / Thermal Properties Units Value
Chemical Formula Cr4+:Y3A5O12
Crystal Symmetry/
Structure		 Cubic
Space Group
Point Group
Melting Point ºC
Thermal Expansion Coeff. @20ºC 10‾⁶/ºC
Thermal Conductivity Coeff. @20ºC W/m/ºK
Specific Heat Capacity J/g K TBA
Density g/cm³ 4.56
Mohs Hardness 8.5
Optical Damage Threshold @1064nm,1ns MW/cm² 500