Efficient 494 mW sum-frequency generation of sodium resonance radiation at 589 nm by using a periodically poled Zn:LiNbO3 ridge waveguide

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 LiNbO3 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%. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America