EFFICIENT FREQUENCY-CONVERSION OF MODE-LOCKED DIODE-PUMPED LASERS AND TUNABLE ALL-SOLID-STATE LASER SOURCES

We report on efficient frequency doubling and quadrupling of a mode-locked diode-pumped Nd laser and applications of this source to pump tunable solid-state laser sources based on Ti: sapphire and a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator. Efficient frequency doubling is achieved by enhancement of the fundamental light in an external ring cavity. Resonant doubling of a mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser, with 6 W of diode pump power, using lithium triborate achieves 750 mW of usable output power at 523 nm. Two enhancement cavities in series form a scheme for resonant quadrupling which has generated up to 42 mW of ultraviolet output at 262 nm. All-solid-state pumping of Ti: sapphire using the high average power frequency doubled source produces up to 25 mW of tunable output from 750 to 830 nm. Synchronous pumping of a continuous wave (CW) mode-locked optical parametric oscillator in KTP by an all-solid-state laser is also demonstrated.