Tunable Visible Laser

The report summarizes the results of an eleven month research program to efficiently frequency double and quadruple the 1.06 micron output of a NdYAG laser and to use the ultraviolet output to pump an optical parametric oscillator tunable throughout the visible spectrum. During this program, average powers of 10 watts at 0.53 micron were obtained from a single CDA second harmonic generation SHG crystal, with greater than 40 conversion from 1.06 micron to 0.53 micron. The green output was in the form of 0.4 joule pulses at 25 Hz. In addition green outputs of up to 0.56 joules at 10 Hz have been produced. The green output was again frequency doubled to 0.266 micron in ADP. Ultraviolet average powers of 1 watt 0.1 joule pulses at 10 Hz were produced with a conversion efficiency of approximately 20. The ultraviolet output was used to pump an ADP parametric generator, degenerate at 0.53 micron and tunable throughout the visible spectrum.