High-efficiency high-power solid-state CW visible lasers for large-format-display applications

Tatyana A. Chernysheva; Dennis F. Elkins; Jesse P. Anderegg; Forrest L. Williams

doi:10.1117/12.807410

23 February 2009 High-efficiency high-power solid-state CW visible lasers for large-format-display applications

Tatyana A. Chernysheva, Dennis F. Elkins, Jesse P. Anderegg, Forrest L. Williams

Proceedings Volume 7197, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications VIII; 719704 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.807410
Event: SPIE LASE: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2009, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

High-efficiency (5%-10% wall-plug efficiency) high-power continuous-wave (CW) visible lasers have been developed for large-format-display applications (e.g., planetariums, visualization centers, etc.). Using an approach pioneered by Evans & Sutherland (E&S), a fiber based master-oscillator-power-amplifier (MOPA) architecture is employed to generate high power near-infrared (NIR) tunable lasers that are then converted to visible wavelengths in external enhancement nonlinear ring cavities. Depending on the wavelength generated, either second-harmonic generation or sum-frequency mixing (or both) in lithium triborate (LBO) are utilized to convert 1064 nm and/or 1550 nm to visible wavelengths, with NIR-to-visible optical-conversion efficiencies of 65%-95% routinely obtained. The resulting visible lasers are single-axial-frequency (FWHM bandwidth < 200 kHz) spatially pure (m² < 1.05) Gaussian beams, and are used as light sources in ultrahigh-resolution projectors manufactured by E&S. The current systems reliably produce 6 W of visible laser power at 448 nm, 532 nm, and 631 nm, with short-term CW operation yielding up to 18 W visible-laser output per color. Laser-induced damage (LID) on nonlinear-crystal facets is the primary limitation to long-term operation at visible powers > 6 W, and efforts are underway to increase crystal LID thresholds to allow reliable operation at greater power levels.

Citation Download Citation

Tatyana A. Chernysheva, Dennis F. Elkins, Jesse P. Anderegg, and Forrest L. Williams "High-efficiency high-power solid-state CW visible lasers for large-format-display applications", Proc. SPIE 7197, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications VIII, 719704 (23 February 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.807410

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