yttriumalumiinigranaattikidetä

Yttrium aluminum garnet, commonly known as YAG, is a synthetic crystalline material with the chemical formula Y3Al5O12. It is a transparent, colorless gemstone that is often used as a diamond simulant due to its hardness and brilliance. YAG crystals are grown using the Czochralski method, where a seed crystal is pulled from a molten mixture of yttrium oxide and aluminum oxide.

The primary applications of YAG crystals are in solid-state lasers. When doped with certain rare-earth elements, such as neodymium or ytterbium, YAG becomes an efficient laser medium. Neodymium-doped YAG (Nd:YAG) lasers are widely used in industrial applications like cutting and welding, as well as in medical procedures such as laser surgery and hair removal. Ytterbium-doped YAG (Yb:YAG) lasers offer advantages in terms of efficiency and wavelength, making them suitable for high-power laser systems.

Beyond lasers, YAG crystals have found use in scintillation detectors for radiation detection. Their ability to emit light when exposed to ionizing radiation makes them valuable in nuclear physics, medical imaging, and security screening. YAG's excellent thermal and mechanical properties, combined with its optical transparency, contribute to its versatility across various scientific and technological fields.