Watt-level laser operation of Pr3+:YLF at 696 and 698 nm

We report continuous-wave deep red lasers at 696.6 and 698.6 nm in a Pr3+:YLF crystal pumped by an InGaN laser diode. A Lyot filter was inserted into the cavity as a birefringent filter to select wavelength; the lasers at 696.6 and 698.6 nm were obtained with a maximum output power of 1.36 and 3.11 W, separately. To the best of our knowledge, the output powers of these two lasers are the highest to date, and this is the first scaling of the output power of the Pr3+:YLF laser to the watt level at around 696 nm. In addition, the corresponding theoretical analysis and simulation were carried out to explain the experimental phenomena.

Automated summary

Continuous-wave deep red lasers at 696.6 and 698.6 nm were achieved in a Pr3+:YLF crystal pumped by an InGaN laser diode. A Lyot filter was used as a birefringent filter in the cavity to select the wavelengths, and the lasers achieved maximum output powers of 1.36 and 3.11 W, respectively. The output powers of these lasers are the highest reported so far, and this is the first demonstration of scaling the output power of the Pr3+:YLF laser to the watt level at around 696 nm. The experimental phenomena were also explained through theoretical analysis and simulation.