Factors affecting tunable second harmonic generation in a semiconductor disk laser with an intracavity diamond heatspreader

Abstract

Semiconductor disk lasers have been shown to be a versatile laser technology providing tunable high power operation and good beam quality at wavelengths from 670 nm to 2.3 mum. The addition of a second harmonic generation (SHG) crystal allows this wavelength range to be extended further into the visible, and even into the UV. Substrate thinning has been very effective in devices around 1 mum, but at more challenging wavelengths, where the thermal impedance of the semiconductor materials is much greater, the intracavity diamond heatspreader allows heat to be removed over a larger area, improving the efficiency of thermal management.