Patent ID: 6671305
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: G02F,H01S,H04N

Abstract:
A compact multi-wavelength solid state laser source capable of producing RGB laser output beams, comprising:a solid state laser element comprising Nd:YVO4 and having lasing wavelengths at approximately 1.06 &mgr;m and 1.34 &mgr;m, the solid state laser defining a center line and having opposing side faces extending substantially parallel to the center line, with pump radiation coupled to the side faces, the solid state laser element further including end faces, with at least one of the end faces comprising a Brewster dispersing prism with twin exit faces formed on opposite sides of the center line of the solid state laser element, and two laser cavities formed on opposite sides of the center line, with a first cavity including a first mirror having a high reflectivity at a first of the lasing wavelengths, a first output mirror, and a first portion of the solid state laser element with one of the twin faces of the Brewster dispersing prism disposed in the first cavity, and the second cavity including a second mirror having a high reflectivity at the second of the lasing wavelengths, a second output mirror, and a second portion of the solid state laser element with the other twin face of the Brewster dispersing prism disposed in the second cavity, a blue output channel producing the blue laser output beam and including a first harmonic crystal receiving laser radiation from the first laser cavity at a wavelength of 1.34 &mgr;m and producing a frequency-doubled wavelength of 671 nm, and a first nonlinear crystal that combines the laser radiation at the wavelength of 1.34 &mgr;m with the frequency-doubled wavelength of 671 nm to produce the blue laser output beam with a sum frequency of 447 nm; a red output channel producing the red laser output beam and including an optical parametric amplifier receiving laser radiation from the second laser cavity at a wavelength of 1.06 &mgr;m and producing a wavelength-shifted wavelength of 1.54 &mgr;m, and a second nonlinear crystal that combines the laser radiation at the wavelength of 1.06 &mgr;m with the wavelength-shifted wavelength of 1.54 &mgr;m to produce the red laser output beam with a sum frequency of 628 nm; and a green output channel producing the green laser output beam and including a second harmonic crystal receiving laser radiation from the second laser cavity at a wavelength of 1.06 &mgr;m and producing a frequency-doubled wavelength of 532 nm.