Patent ID: 7742510

Claim:
A microchip laser for providing a frequency doubled visible or near-ultraviolet output, the microchip laser comprising: a semiconductor diode pump laser providing a pump beam at a select wavelength, and a microchip laser cavity disposed to receive the pump beam, the laser cavity comprising: two mirrors, each mirror defined by a coated surface; a solid-state gain element pumped by the semiconductor diode pump laser and disposed between the two mirrors; and a bulk, periodically poled nonlinear frequency doubling crystal disposed between the two mirrors, the crystal having a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to about 1 mm and comprising material selected from the group consisting of: periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO 3 , periodically poled MgO-doped LiTaO 3 , periodically poled ZnO-doped LiNbO 3 , periodically poled ZnO-doped LiTaO 3 , periodically poled stoichiometric LiNbO 3 , periodically poled stoichiometric LiTaO 3 ; wherein the gain element and the frequency doubling crystal are formed together as a monolithic assembly.