Compact eye-safe laser sources based on OPOs with KTP or PPKTP crystals

摘要

We report on compact eye-safe nanosecond laser sources emitting in the 1.5 mu m wavelength range based on non-critically phasematched parametric interaction in optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) with KTP and periodically poled KTP (PPKTP) crystals, pumped by the fundamental frequency of Nd:YAG lasers. As much as 250 mu J signal pulse energy at 1.5 mu m wavelength, 6.5 ns FWHM pulse-width, has been obtained in a PPKTP-OPO, extracavity pumped by a Nd:YAG microlaser oscillator-amplifier at 650 mu J pump pulse energy, 8 ns pulse-width. A single signal pulse of 2.7-mJ output energy at 1.57 mu m wavelength, less than 5 ns pulse-width, was generated in a KTP-OPO, intracavity pumped by a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.