High-power, frequency-doubled Nd:GdVO4 laser for use in lithium cold atom experiments.

Abstract

We report on an 888 nm-pumped Nd:GdVO4 ring laser operational over a wavelength range from 1340.3 nm to 1342.1 nm with a maximum output power of 7.4 W at 1341.2 nm and a beam quality parameter M2<1.1. To our knowledge this is the highest single-longitudinal-mode power obtained with a Nd:GdVO4 crystal laser. We use a commercial frequency-doubling cavity to achieve 1.2 W at 671.0 nm and 4.0 W at 670.6 nm for use in lithium cold atom experiments. Respectively, these wavelengths are approximately resonant with and 250 GHz blue-detuned from the lithium D-lines. Thus, this source provides ample power for laser cooling of lithium atoms while also offering substantial power for experiments requiring light 10's to 100's of GHz blue-detuned from the primary lithium transitions.