Solid-state-based laser system as a replacement for Ar⁺ lasers.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Solid-State Lasers

Background:

• Frequency-doubled Argon-ion (Ar+) lasers are widely used but suffer from maintenance issues and limited tunability.
• Developing compact, efficient, and stable laser sources is crucial for various scientific applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on a novel solid-state laser system generating light at 1028 nm, with frequency-doubled and quadrupled outputs at 514 nm and 257 nm.
• To evaluate the system's power, tunability, and suitability as a replacement for existing laser technologies.

Main Methods:

• A diode laser-seeded ytterbium fiber amplifier generates the initial 1028 nm light.
• Two build-up cavities are employed for frequency doubling to 514 nm and quadrupling to 257 nm.
• Mode-hop-free frequency tuning is achieved over a 16 GHz range in 10 ms at 257 nm.

Main Results:

• The system achieves up to 4.7 W of optical power at 514 nm.
• Up to 173 mW of optical power is obtained at 257 nm, limited by the nonlinear crystal.
• The laser demonstrates mode-hop-free tunability of 16 GHz within 10 ms at 257 nm.

Conclusions:

• The developed solid-state laser system offers a low-maintenance, efficient, and tunable narrowband replacement for frequency-doubled Ar+ lasers.
• The system's performance at 257 nm makes it suitable for applications requiring stable and tunable UV light sources.