Processing of natural diamond using nanosecond and picosecond lasers: relative merits and demerits

S. K. Sudheer; Bharat Kakadia; V. P. Mahadevan Pillai; George A. Shafeev; Alexander V. Simakin

doi:10.1117/12.786994

13 March 2008 Processing of natural diamond using nanosecond and picosecond lasers: relative merits and demerits

S. K. Sudheer, Bharat Kakadia, V. P. Mahadevan Pillai, George A. Shafeev, Alexander V. Simakin

Proceedings Volume 6881, Commercial and Biomedical Applications of Ultrafast Lasers VIII; 68811G (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.786994
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2008, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Lasers are able to saw complex diamond crystals with improved yields and provide better accuracy, greater speed, and lower breakage rates even for sensitive diamonds and lower weight loss for difficult stones. In the present investigation, four different types of nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers namely an arc lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm, arc lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at second harmonically generated 532 nm, diode pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser operating at 1064 nm, a diode pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm, 532nm picosecond Diode pumped Nd:YAG laser and 510 nm Cu vapor laser have been employed for the processing of single crystal gem quality natural diamond to study the effects of pulse width and wavelength on various aspects of processing and the relative merits and demerits. The overall weight loss of the diamond and formation of micro cracking during processing have been studied for the above four cases. The characteristics of graphite formed during processing, elemental analysis, surface morphology of cut face and process dynamics have been studied using Micro Raman spectroscopic technique and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The Micro Raman and SEM analysis show that the surface quality is obtained superior by using diode pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser due to its extremely high peak power. The maximum graphite content is observed while processing using lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. Shorter laser pulses result in higher cutting rate of natural diamonds due to better localization of absorbed laser energy.

Citation Download Citation

S. K. Sudheer, Bharat Kakadia, V. P. Mahadevan Pillai, George A. Shafeev, and Alexander V. Simakin "Processing of natural diamond using nanosecond and picosecond lasers: relative merits and demerits", Proc. SPIE 6881, Commercial and Biomedical Applications of Ultrafast Lasers VIII, 68811G (13 March 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.786994

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available