Sandia National Labs: PCNSC: Departments: Lasers: VECSEL: Optically Pumped Configurations

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Compact, Optically Pumped Blue (490nm) Source	430nm Optically Pumped VECSEL


Diode-pumped, frequency-doubled VECSEL	KNbO3 a-cut crystal
Output: ~5 mW cw, < 1% rms noise	Fundamental wavelength, 860nm >6mW output @ 430nm
Wavelength: 490 nm	Could use commercial red diode lasers as pump
Input Power: < 2.5 Watts
Beam Profile: Circular TEM00 10 mR e-2 FW

Broadband photoluminescence (and gain) shifts with optical excitation.
optically pumped VECSEL VECSEL schematic image 1
Spectra are determined by:

QW Composition and Thickness
Carrier Density
Temperature

Fluorescence from the optically-pumped gain medium is strongly modulated by the 'microcavity'.
VECSEL fluorescence image 1 VECSEL schematic image 2 VECSEL schematic image 3

Gain peak shifts to red
Increasing Carrier Density Shifts Fluorescence to Blue
Increasing Temperature Shifts Fluorescence to Red

The IR VECSEL produces high output power with high efficiency and good beam quality.
IR VECSEL chart 1

~110 µm 1/e2 pump diameter

Pump-to-IR efficiency greater than 40%

Linearly polarized output

Good Beam Quality:

Broadband spectra of IR VECSEL is structured and time varying.

Wavelength Shifts Toward Red with Increasing Temperature

Total Power is Stable

Changing Spectral Structure is Consistent with Homogeneously Broadened Gain

gain chart

Compact Single Longitudinal Mode VECSEL
longitude mode

150 micron 'Brewster etalon' forces SLM operation

150 mW output power

Developed for CRADA with Aculight Corp (Bothell, Wa.)

THE VECSEL TEAM

Points of Contact:

W. J. Alford	Andy Allerman	Ron Allman	Mike Bannis
Weng Chow	Mary Crawford	Peter Esherick	Art Fischer
T. D. Raymond	Darwin Serkland	Arlee Smith	Channy Wong

Related Links:

VECSELs: The Other Surface Emitting Semiconductor Laser