Solid-state blue laser offers extended tunability

Aug. 1, 2008
Although continuous-wave blue diode lasers are available, output power, beam quality, and tunability are limited.

Although continuous-wave blue diode lasers are available, output power, beam quality, and tunability are limited. And although frequency doubling of Ti:sapphire laser output can provide tuning in the 400 to 500 nm range, both cost and complexity of this option are high. Using an alternative method based on second-harmonic generation in the cavity of a green-laser-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO), researchers at Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques and Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, both in Barcelona, Spain, have developed a blue, compact solid-state laser that offers practical output power, single-mode operation, and a wide tuning range.

A magnesium-oxide doped stoichiometric lithium tantalite (MgO:sPPLT) nonlinear crystal is placed between two concave reflectors and a bismuth borate (BIBO) nonlinear crystal is placed between two plane mirrors, comprising a ring OPO cavity. Temperature tuning of the MgO:sPPLT crystal varies the resonant signal wavelength (produced by the green laser at 532 nm pumping the cavity) from 850 to 978 nm, while angular tuning of the BIBO crystal produces the corresponding second-harmonic generation wavelength in the blue from 425 to 489 nm. The blue output has a power level ranging from 45 mW up to 448 mW. The tuning range can be extended to cover 300 to 530 nm using different gratings in the MgO:sPPLT crystal. Contact Majid Ebrahim-Zadeh at [email protected].

Sponsored Recommendations

Advancing Neuroscience Using High-Precision 3D Printing

March 7, 2025
Learn how Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Used High-Precision 3D Printing to Advance Neuroscience Research using 3D Printed Optical Drives.

From Prototyping to Production: How High-Precision 3D Printing is Reinventing Electronics Manufacturing

March 7, 2025
Learn how micro 3D printing is enabling miniaturization. As products get smaller the challenge to manufacture small parts increases.

Sputtered Thin-film Coatings

Feb. 27, 2025
Optical thin-film coatings can be deposited by a variety of methods. Learn about 2 traditional methods and a deposition process called sputtering.

What are Notch Filters?

Feb. 27, 2025
Notch filters are ideal for applications that require nearly complete rejection of a laser line while passing as much non-laser light as possible.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!