132 W laser-diode-pumped Nd:YVO_4/LBO blue laser at 457 nm

Abstract

We report the efficient compact deep-blue laser at 457 nm generation by intracavity frequency doubling of a continuous wave (cw) laser operation of a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser on the 4F3/2→4I9/2 transition at 914 nm. An LBO crystal, cut for critical type I phase matching at room temperature is used for second-harmonic generation (SHG) of the laser. At an incident pump power of 38 W, as high as 13.2 W of cw output power at 457 nm is achieved with 15-mm-long LBO. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is up to 34.7%, and the power stability in 2 h is better than ±2.68%.