Abstract

The utility of diode-pumped Nd: YAG lasers is currently limited by their inherent lack of tunability. We report a continuously tunable output between 380 and 520 nm using a diode-pumped Nd: YAG laser to pump an intracavity-doubled optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The overall electrical efficiency of this device is 0.4%. The OPO employs a 10-mm cube of KTP cut for normal incidence at ϕ = 0°, θ = 69°, corresponding to a signal wavelength of 911 nm. The experimental setup is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser produces 54 mJ of TEM₋₀₀ Q-switched 1.064-μm output in a 10-ns pulse, for a diode pump energy of 550 mJ and electrical efficiency of 3.5%. This pulse is frequency-doubled in a 10-mm length of KTP, generating 45 mJ of 532-nm output with a conversion efficiency of 82%.

© 1992 Optical Society of America