Doubled Diode Laser (SBIR-95).

The Doubled Diode laser program aimed to produce a highly efficient blue laser source based on the frequency doubling of a semiconductor diode laser in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide. Under this program we have demonstrated waveguide doubling device conversion efficiencies of 300W, and generated more than 7mW of blue light The program has enabled us to attain a unique processing capability, that of producing the required 4.5 microm period domain gratings for the waveguide frequency doublers, achieved by the application of our own proprietary material processing techniques and pattering geometries. The finding provided by this program generated key insights into the electric field poling process and the material processing required to achieve highly efficient devices. The process development started under this program has led directly and indirectly to a number of successes highly efficient blue frequency doubling waveguide devices, commercial PPLN sales for infrared devices, 31 wafer scale poling of infrared devices, and PPLN for bulk, visible frequency conversion applications.