Efficient high-power continuous-wave lasers at green-lime-yellow wavelengths by using a Nd:YVO ₄ self-Raman crystal

Efficient high-power continuous-wave Nd:YVO ₄ visible lasers at versatile wavelengths of 532 (green), 559 (lime), and 588 nm (yellow) are demonstrated to be achieved by using the identical cavity mirrors and gain medium. A dichroic coating is deposited on one end surface of the gain medium to gather the backward green-yellow emission. The green, lime, and yellow outputs are individually optimized by using different phase-matched lithium triborate (LBO) crystals for second harmonic generation (SHG) of the fundamental field, sum frequency generation (SFG) of the fundamental and the stimulated Raman fields, and SHG of the stimulated Raman field, respectively. At a pump power of 31.6 W, the output powers at 532, 559, and 588 nm can be up to 6.8, 5.4, and 3.1 W. The high efficient and compact Nd:YVO ₄ lasers at green-lime-yellow wavelengths can be potentially beneficial to future applications in retinal photocoagulation.