Open AccessEfficient 494 mW sum-frequency generation of sodium resonance radiation at 589 nm by using a periodically poled Zn:LiNbO_3 ridge waveguide
Author(s) -
Tadashi Nishikawa,
A. Ozawa,
Y. Nishida,
Masaki Asobe,
Feng−Lei Hong,
Theodor W. Hänsch
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.017792
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , laser , energy conversion efficiency , lithium niobate , waveguide , optoelectronics , wavelength , radiation , sum frequency generation , nonlinear optics , physics
A solid-state-laser based single-frequency 589 nm light source that can be easily used in the laboratory is needed for sodium spectroscopy studies and cold sodium atom experiments. This paper shows that by using a periodically poled Zn-doped LiNbO(3) ridge waveguide for sum-frequency generation, we can obtain a high conversion efficiency to 589 nm light from two sub-watt 1064 and 1319 nm Nd:YAG lasers via a simple single pass wavelength conversion process without employing an enhancement cavity. A 494 mW light at 589 nm is generated and achieves overall conversion efficiency from the laser power of 41%. Excellent long-term stability of output power is obtained and its standard deviation is characterized to be 0.09%.