Optically pumped semiconductor lasers: a new reliable technique for realizing highly efficient visible lasers

Seelert, Wolf; Butterworth, S.D.; Rosperich, Juergen; Walter, Christian; Elm, Ruediger von; Ostroumov, V. G.; Chilla, J. L. A.; Zhou, Hailong; Weiss, Eli; Caprara, Andrea

doi:10.1117/12.602042

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…The nonlinear optical processes can be further cascaded to generate third, fourth, and so on harmonics of the fundamental input light frequency. Using this approach, fundamental wavelengths in the near-infrared between 0.8 and 1.3 mm, which are more readily accessible directly by semiconductor VCSELS, have been converted efficiently to the 0.24-0.65 mm ultraviolet and visible, including blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, wavelength range (Chapter 3) [22,24,53,54,57,58,78]. Nonlinear optical conversion has tremendously broadened the wavelength range accessible by VECSELs and made efficient light sources available at wavelengths that previously had been accessible only by inefficient gas lasers, such as Ar laser at 488 nm for fluorescent marker applications, or where no effective light sources had been available at all, such as 577 nm yellow wavelength for photocoagulation treatment in ophthalmology [57,58].…”

Section: Wavelength Versatility Through Nonlinear Optical Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, such an external cavity gives tremendous versatility to VECSEL device configurations and functions. Flexible VECSEL laser cavities, such as linear twomirror cavity, three-mirror V-shaped cavity, and four-mirror Z-shaped cavity [18,20,[49][50][51][52][53][54], allow flexible insertion of intracavity optical elements. Such intracavity functional elements are very difficult or impossible to use with integrated semiconductor devices.…”

Section: Laser Functional Versatility Through Intracavity Optical Elementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Availability of such high intracavity power, together with high beam quality, allows very efficient nonlinear optical operation, such as second harmonic generation, by inserting nonlinear optical crystals inside the external laser cavity (Chapter 3) [14,22,24,53,54,58,76]. Using intracavity second harmonic generation, VECSELs have provided efficient laser output at wavelengths not accessible by other laser materials and techniques (Chapter 3).…”

Section: Laser Functional Versatility Through Intracavity Optical Elementioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have already discussed one example of such extended cavity versatility -inserting multiple gain elements in the cavity in series for power scaling of VECSELs. One important option allowed by the external cavity is the insertion of intracavity spectral filters, such as etalons [55,56], Brewsters angle birefringent filters [54,57,58], volume gratings (Chapter 7) [59], or high-reflectivity gratings [60], to control longitudinal spectral modes of the laser and possibly to select a single longitudinal lasing mode. Tuning a birefringent filter by rotation then achieves tunable VECSEL operation; greater than 20 nm tuning range with multiwatt output was demonstrated with this approach [61].…”

Section: Laser Functional Versatility Through Intracavity Optical Elementioning

confidence: 99%

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VECSEL Semiconductor Lasers: A Path to High‐Power, Quality Beam and UV to IR Wavelength by Design

Kuznetsov¹

2010

Semiconductor Disk Lasers

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Since its invention and demonstration in 1960, several types of laser have been developed, such as solid-state, semiconductor, gas, excimer, and dye lasers [1]. Today, lasers are used in a wide range of important applications, particularly in optical fiber communication, optical digital recording (CD, DVD, and Blu-ray), laser materials processing, biology and medicine, spectroscopy, imaging, entertainment, and many others. A number of properties enable the application of lasers in these diverse areas, each application requiring a particular combination of these properties. Some of the most important laser properties are laser emission wavelength; output optical power; method of laser excitation, whether by optical pumping or electrical current injection; laser power consumption and efficiency; high-speed modulation or short pulse generation ability; wavelength tunability; output beam quality; device size; and so on. Thus, optical fiber communication [2], a major application that enables modern Internet, commonly requires lasers with emission wavelengths in the 1.55 mm lowloss band of glass fibers and with single-transverse mode output beams for coupling into single-mode optical fibers. Typically, a given laser type excels in some of these properties, while exhibiting shortcomings in others. For example, by using different material compositions and structures, the most widely used semiconductor diode laser [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] can cover a wide range of wavelengths from the ultraviolet (UV) to the mid-IR, can be advantageously driven by diode current injection, and is very compact and efficient. However, the good beam quality, that is, single-transverse mode nearcircular beam operation, can be typically achieved in semiconductor lasers only for output powers below 1 W. Much higher power levels are achievable from semiconductor lasers only with large aspect ratio highly multimoded poor quality optical beams. On the other hand, the solid-state lasers [13,14], including fiber lasers [15], can emit hundreds of watts of output power with excellent beam quality, however, their emission wavelengths are restricted to discrete values of electronic transitions in ions, such as the classic 1064 nm wavelength of the Nd:YAG laser, making them Semiconductor Disk Lasers. Physics and Technology. Edited by Oleg G. Okhotnikov

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Section: Wavelength Versatility Through Nonlinear Optical Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laser Functional Versatility Through Intracavity Optical Elementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laser Functional Versatility Through Intracavity Optical Elementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laser Functional Versatility Through Intracavity Optical Elementioning

confidence: 99%

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VECSEL Semiconductor Lasers: A Path to High‐Power, Quality Beam and UV to IR Wavelength by Design

Kuznetsov¹

2010

Semiconductor Disk Lasers

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“…1 The green and blue range of visible wavelengths necessary for RGB (red, green, blue) displays have been especially difficult to obtain. 2,3 To address this, Novalux developed frequency-doubled vertical extended-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs, also referred to as Necsels: Novalux extendedcavity surface-emitting lasers). [4][5][6] These lasers emit circular Gaussian beams with 8-10% power conversion efficiencies for blue and green wavelengths.…”

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confidence: 99%

Novel laser sources for large-venue projection markets

Jansen¹

2008

SPIE Newsroom

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Efficient blue and green surface-emitting lasers enable highperformance, low-cost light engines for displays.Lamp-based projection sources for use in large venues such as convention halls, theaters, and museums are not easily scalable. These projectors typically combine up to four 200W ultra-highpower lamps in order to provide sufficient projection. As an alternative, xenon lamps of 6000-7000W have been employed in digital cinema projectors. However, the largeétendue (the spread of the light in area and angle) of the lamps makes for inefficient light collection and projection. Moreover, the cost of ownership for such equipment is considerable due to the high electrical consumption associated with operating and cooling the projectors and the high cost of lamp replacements. There is a need in the industry for projection systems with longer lifetimes, lowétendue, and wider color gamuts.New laser-based light sources suitable for large venues are highly desired as they will produce a wide range of colors and are extremely stable. They permit constant power operation over a narrow wavelength emission with no wasted IR or UV spectral content, minimizing the need for color rebalancing. In addition, they allow for faster warm-up times and exhibit low noise compared to lamps. The overall system efficiency and improved thermal performance offer a significant enhancement over lampbased projectors. Lasers would also enable 3D movies since they offer as much as a 60% power advantage over lamp-based systems. Insight Media estimated approximately $7800 in energy savings per year from using laser sources instead of lamps in digital cinema projectors. 1 The green and blue range of visible wavelengths necessary for RGB (red, green, blue) displays have been especially difficult to obtain. 2,3 To address this, Novalux developed frequency-doubled vertical extended-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs, also referred to as Necsels: Novalux extendedcavity surface-emitting lasers). [4][5][6] These lasers emit circular Gaussian beams with 8-10% power conversion efficiencies for blue and green wavelengths. Other wavelengths such as cyan and yellow can be added in the future using the same technology. Continued on next page

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Efficient green generation by intracavity frequency doubling of an optically pumped semiconductor disk laser

Hartke¹,

Heumann²,

Huber³

et al. 2007

Appl. Phys. B

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Optically pumped semiconductor lasers: a new reliable technique for realizing highly efficient visible lasers

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

VECSEL Semiconductor Lasers: A Path to High‐Power, Quality Beam and UV to IR Wavelength by Design

VECSEL Semiconductor Lasers: A Path to High‐Power, Quality Beam and UV to IR Wavelength by Design

Novel laser sources for large-venue projection markets

Efficient green generation by intracavity frequency doubling of an optically pumped semiconductor disk laser

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