Cutting performances with new industrial continuous wave ND:YAG high power lasersFor dismantling of former nuclear workshops, the performances of recently introduced high power continuous wave ND:YAG lasers are assessed

Dismantling is a great challenge for nuclear companies which are facing with the cleaning of former nuclear sites. Among the available cutting processes is the multi-kilowatts laser whose power is transmitted through optical fibers. Unlike other cutting processes such as the plasma arc cutting process or the oxy-cutting process, the laser process can be easily implemented by robotic equipments. The mechanised robotic arm carries a laser cutting head to perform, with remote-controlled equipments, the cutting operation.