Open AccessCavity-enhanced generation of 6 W cw second-harmonic power at 532 nm in periodically-poled MgO:LiTaO_3
Author(s) -
I. Ricciardi,
M. De Rosa,
A. Rocco,
Pietro Ferraro,
P. De Natale
Publication year - 2010
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.18.010985
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , crystal (programming language) , second harmonic generation , energy conversion efficiency , absorption (acoustics) , harmonic , optoelectronics , power (physics) , nonlinear optics , coupling (piping) , laser , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , metallurgy , programming language
We report on efficient cw high-power second harmonic generation in a periodically poled LiTaO3 crystal placed in a resonant enhancement cavity. We tested three configurations, differing in the coupling mirror reflectivity, and a maximum conversion efficiency of about 76%, corresponding to 6.1 W of green light with 8.0 W of fundamental power, was achieved. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest cw power ever reported using a periodically-poled crystal in an external cavity. We observed photo-thermal effect induced by photon absorption at the mirrors and in the crystal, which however does not affect stable operation of the cavity. A further effect arises for two out of the three configurations, at higher values of the input power, which degrades the performance of the locked cavity. We suggest this effect is due to the onset of competing nonlinearities in the same crystal.