Advances in high-power diode-pumped ultraviolet lasers

摘要

In the past five years diode-pumped Q-switched vanadate and YAG lasers with 355 nm and 266 nm output have advanced in power level and reliability and are now qualified in many industrial processes. In this paper we will discuss the design and performance of these lasers with consideration of available power and wavelength of laser diodes, selection of materials for the non-linear crystals, trades offs for end-pumped and side-pumped designs, and scaling of such lasers to higher power levels. Performance characteristics to be discussed include power and efficiency, ramping behavior, beam quality, and pulse-to-pulse stability.