HIGH QUALITY LASER DRILLING IN EMERALD CRYSTALS

摘要

Drilling tests of emerald crystals by means of copper vapor lasers are reported as a crucial step in inclusion removal techniques. In spite of the low optical absorption of emerald at the green-yellow emission lines of this class of lasers, tiny and precise holes are readily achieved with only 2 W average laser power. Hole dimensions and internal wall quality are in the range required for this application.