Publications Details
High conversion efficiency pumped-cavity second harmonic generation of a diode laser
To investigate the feasibility of producing a compact, efficient blue laser source, pumped-cavity second harmonic generation of diode lasers was explored. It is desirable to have such lasers to increase optical disk storage density, for color displays and for under-the-sea green-blue optical signal transmission. Based on assumed cavity losses, a cavity was designed and numerical analysis predicted an overall conversion efficiency to the second harmonic wavelength of 76% from a 75 mW diode laser. The diode laser used in these experiments had a single longitudinal and a single transverse mode output at 860 nm. The best conversion efficiency obtained (26%) was less than optimum due to the 2.5% single-pass linear losses associated with the cavity. However, calculations based on these higher losses are in good agreement with the experimentally determined values. In additions, a factor of 1.65 increase in the second harmonic output power is anticipated by reducing the input mirror reflectivity to better impedance-match the cavity. With this relatively low second harmonic conversion, the power to light conversion is 7.8%.