Ti:sapphire laser pumped by a frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser

We report on the operation of a tunable all-solid-state (holosteric) laser system consisting of a tunable Ti:sapphire laser pumped by a frequency-doubled diode-laser-pumped Nd:YLF laser. With a 1-W pump diode, the Nd:YLF laser has been frequency-modulation mode locked and Q switched at 1.047 microm. This produces a pulse envelope of 75-nsec duration with 45 microJ of energy in 21-psec pulses at a 360-MHz repetition rate. This output was frequency doubled in 90 degrees phase-matched MgO:LiNbO(3) with a 47% energy conversion efficiency. The Ti:sapphire cavity was a three-mirror astigmatically compensated arrangement.The threshold absorbed pump energy was 3.9 microJ, with an output energy of 1.3 microJ at 10.8-microJ absorbed pump power.The tuning range was 746-838 nm and was limited by the mirror reflectivities.