The application of YAG laser technology for repair, decontamination and decommissioning of radioactive equipment

Nd:YAG laser sources are extremely versatile in their ability to process materials by cutting, welding, heat treating, cladding and ablation. It is the one high power laser medium knownto date that can be used as a cw source, pulsed source, and q-switch source with our without frequency shifting. Each type of modulation has benefits in material processing, especially when viewing the decontamination of radioactive equipment. The ability to fiber deliver this laser light at high average powers is key to their use in industry and translates easily into the repair, decontamination and decommissioning of radioactive equipment. This paper will discuss the basic technology of laser sources and beam delivery as they apply to work on radioactive equipment.Nd:YAG laser sources are extremely versatile in their ability to process materials by cutting, welding, heat treating, cladding and ablation. It is the one high power laser medium knownto date that can be used as a cw source, pulsed source, and q-switch source with our without frequency shifting. Each type of modulation has benefits in material processing, especially when viewing the decontamination of radioactive equipment. The ability to fiber deliver this laser light at high average powers is key to their use in industry and translates easily into the repair, decontamination and decommissioning of radioactive equipment. This paper will discuss the basic technology of laser sources and beam delivery as they apply to work on radioactive equipment.