Investigation of diode-pumped, self-frequency doubled RGB lasers from Nd:YCOB crystals

As a new self-frequency doubling crystal, Nd:YCOB demonstrates a great potential for diode-pumped cw visible solid state lasers in a simple hemispherical cavity. We previously reported 62 mW cw green output with less than 1 W diode pump power absorbed in the crystal. Now we present more than 16 mW red cw laser at 666 nm from 5% Nd:YCOB crystal. As far as we know, it is the first time that diode-pumped cw red lasing is achieved by self-frequency doubling. Our effort on blue laser is also addressed. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.