High power laser for peening of metals enabling production technology

Laser shot peening, a surface treatment for metals, is known to induce compressive residual stresses of over 1 mm (0.040 inch) depth providing improved component resistance to various forms of failure. Additionally recent information suggests that thermal relaxation of the laser induced stress is significantly less than that experienced by other forms of surface stressing that involve significantly higher levels of cold work. We have developed a unique solid state laser technology employing Nd:glass slabs and phase conjugation that enables this process to move into high throughput production processing.