Generation of 1216 nm and 608 nm laser emission using cascaded Raman shifts in Nd:YVO4

Abstract

We report the design and operation of two self-Raman lasers optimized for emission at 1216 nm and 608 nm, utilizing a combination of Raman shifts at 890 and 259 cm−1 in c-cut Nd:YVO4 crystal. Key to the efficient operation of these lasers was the use of a double-end diffusion-bonded Nd:YVO4 composite crystal. This enabled the generation of a maximum average output power of 2.6 W at 1216 nm (with a diode-Stokes conversion efficiency of 14.7%) from the Stokes-optimized cavity. With the incorporation of a non-critically phase matched LBO crystal and a slight cavity re-design, the Stokes field at 1216 nm was frequency doubled to the orange part of the visible spectrum (608 nm), where a maximum average output power of 1.71 W was achieved with a diode-orange conversion efficiency of 9.7%.