Highly efficient wavelength conversion of Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers into a red wavelength

• Published in: IEEE journal of quantum electronics Vol. 42; no. 7; pp. 706 - 712
• Main Authors: Figen, Z.G., Yalabik, A., Aytur, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-07-2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Conversion; Devices; Doped-insulator lasers and other solid state lasers; Energy conversion efficiency; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency conversion; Frequency conversion ; harmonic generation, including high-order harmonic generation; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser optical systems: design and operation; Laser theory; Lasers; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Neodymium:YAG lasers; Nonlinear optics; Optical frequency conversion; optical parametric oscillators; Optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers; Optical pumping; Optical wavelength conversion; Optics; Oscillators; Physics; Pump lasers; Q-switched lasers; Q-switching; Wavelength conversion; Wavelengths; Neodymiam:YAG lasers; Titanyl compounds; Upconversion; Parametric conversion; Potassium compounds; Optical phase matching; Arsenates; Laser pumping; YAG laser; Frequency conversion; Sum frequency; Experimental study; Optical parametric oscillators; Parametric generator; Solid state lasers; Optical frequency conversion; Q-switched lasers; Q switched laser; Nonlinear optics; ns range; Neodymium lasers
• ISSN: 0018-9197; 1558-1713
• DOI: 10.1109/JQE.2006.876711

We report a nanosecond upconversion optical parametric oscillator which can convert the output of a Nd:YAG laser at 1064-nm wavelength into 627 nm with high efficiency. This device is based on a single KTiOAsO 4 crystal that is simultaneously phase matched for optical parametric generation and sum-frequency generation. Pumped at a wavelength of 1064 nm by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in a double-pass configuration, this device produces 14.2-ns-long 5.8-mJ red pulses at a wavelength of 627 nm with 29% energy conversion efficiency. In addition, we developed a theoretical model for this device, whose predictions agree reasonably well with our experimental results. It is possible to scale this device for use with higher energy pump lasers and to shape it into a physically small semi-monolithic configuration