摘要:
A monolithic diode pumped solid-state laser (11) comprising as the laser host neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) (12, 52) or neodymium-doped gadolinium orthovanadate (Nd:GdVO4) (57, 67) operating on the 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 (∩914 nm or ∩912 nm respectively) transition, to which a suitable nonlinear optic material (16), such as potassium niobate (KNbO3) or beta barium borate (BBO), is bonded. The nonlinear crystal gives rise to intracavity frequency doubling to ∩457 or ∩456 nm. The microlaser is a composite cavity formed form a gain medium crystal and a nonlinear frequency doubling material which together have four spaced parallel dielectrically coated faces (14, 17, 18, 15) and which is positioned in close proximity to a diode laser pump source (13) for phase-matched harmonic generation of blue light along an axis of propagation which lies substantially perpendicular to the two faces of the composite cavity. By employing specific doping concentration-length products of lasant material and pumping the gain medium which has a specific crystalline orientation the desired efficient blue microlaser is achieved. Alternative embodiments combine the Nd:YVO4 and Nd:GdVO4 elements to enhance certain output characteristics of the laser.
摘要:
An intracavity frequency-converted laser having an intracavity reflector situated to reflect converted radiation at a nonzero angle with respect to the optical axis. The laser includes an optical cavity (40) that defines an optical axis, a gain medium (46) for providing a fundamental laser emission, a pump source (60) for pumping the gain medium, and a nonlinear material (62) for frequency converting the fundamental laser emission to provide first and second converted beams that propagate in opposite directions within the optical cavity. An angled reflector (70) that reflects optical radiation at the converted wavelength, but is transmissive at the fundamental wavelength is situated within the optical cavity to reflect one of the converted beams along a path angled with respect to the optical axis. Reflecting the converted radiation before it propagates through the gain medium avoids absorption losses. Furthermore, interference between the reflected beam and other converted beam is avoided due to the angle of reflection.
摘要:
A monolithic diode pumped solid-state laser (11) comprising as the laser host neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) (12, 52) or neodymium-doped gadolinium orthovanadate (Nd:GdVO4) (57, 67) operating on the 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 (∩914 nm or ∩912 nm respectively) transition, to which a suitable nonlinear optic material (16), such as potassium niobate (KNbO3) or beta barium borate (BBO), is bonded. The nonlinear crystal gives rise to intracavity frequency doubling to ∩457 or ∩456 nm. The microlaser is a composite cavity formed form a gain medium crystal and a nonlinear frequency doubling material which together have four spaced parallel dielectrically coated faces (14, 17, 18, 15) and which is positioned in close proximity to a diode laser pump source (13) for phase-matched harmonic generation of blue light along an axis of propagation which lies substantially perpendicular to the two faces of the composite cavity. By employing specific doping concentration-length products of lasant material and pumping the gain medium which has a specific crystalline orientation the desired efficient blue microlaser is achieved. Alternative embodiments combine the Nd:YVO4 and Nd:GdVO4 elements to enhance certain output characteristics of the laser.
摘要:
A longitudinally-cooled laser element assembly comprises an optically transparent heat sink (OTH) (110, 120) coupled to a laser element (100) and a heat sink (130, 140). An etalon structure including a first flat surface and a second, substantially parallel flat surface is formed in the laser element and/or the OTH. In some embodiments, a balanced etalon is provided by forming a reflector on the second flat surface (107) of the etalon that has a reflectivity approximately equal to the Fresnel loss at the interface between the OTH and the laser element. In some embodiments the laser element assembly includes a second OTH (120) coupled to the laser element at a second interface, thereby defining a second Fresnel loss. Preferably, the second OTH has an index of refraction substantially equal to the index of refraction of the first OTH, so that said first and second Fresnel losses are approximately equal and a balanced etalon is formed. In some embodiments the laser element comprises a solid-state gain medium. In other embodiments the laser element comprises a nonlinear frequency conversion crystal. An intracavity frequency-converted laser is described in which OTHs are used to cool both the gain medium and the nonlinear material.