Compact ultraviolet laser

This dissertation presents theoretical analysis and experimental investigation of a compact ultraviolet laser, comprising an unstable resonator semiconductor (URSL) laser-pumped potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) periodically segmented waveguide (PSW) laser.; A comprehensive survey of existing short wavelength visible and near ultraviolet laser technologies suitable for the development of compact ultraviolet lasers is presented. This survey establishes the suitability of a diode-pumped KTP PSW laser as an attractive approach for developing a compact ultraviolet laser. Requirements for an efficient diode-pumped KTP PSW laser are given, leading to the selection of a frequency-stabilized URSL and hydrothermal KTP PSWs as the component technologies to be developed and integrated.; Since the design requirements for the URSL and KTP PSW are critically dependent on a thorough understanding of the spatial mode properties of KTP PSWs, analyses and modeling of the spatial mode properties of these devices is presented using effective index method (EIM) and beam propagation method (BPM) models. In addition, a new expression for the normalized conversion efficiency is presented which explicitly incorporates the dependence of this important parameter on the lateral variation of the refractive index and d coefficient.; To assess the theoretical performance of an URSL-pumped KTP PSW, the BPM model was extended to incorporate second harmonic generation. This represents an important contribution to the development of numerical methods for modeling nonlinear waveguides, in general, and provides important information on the cooperative effects of diffraction and spatial mode beating on the SHG output from KTP PSWs.; Extensive optical characterization of NUV SHG in hydrothermal KTP PSWs using an argon-ion laser-pumped Ti:Sapphire laser as the infrared laser pump source is presented. Spectral characterization, spatial mode characterization, and the temperature dependence of the QPM wavelength are presented. This work includes results for the highest cw output powers reported for NUV SHG output from a laser-pumped KTP PSW.; In an important step towards demonstration of an URSL-pumped KTP PSW laser, fabrication methods and test results ate reported for half-symmetric, low magnification SQW AlGaAs URSLs emitting at 770 nm and designed for use as diode pump sources for hydrothermal KTP PSWs. These devices utilize a {dollar}rm 200 mu m times 500 mu m{dollar} active region profile and were focused-ion-beam micromachined to achieve a total resonator magnification of 2.9. The first demonstration of high brightness, single-longitudinal mode operation from a core grating URSL is reported.; This dissertation concludes with results for the first demonstration of an URSL-pumped KTP waveguide laser. This compact ultraviolet laser represents a pioneering effort to take advantage of the high cw output powers available from high brightness URSLs to increase the SH output powers obtainable from diode-pumped nonlinear waveguide lasers and to extend the useful spectral range from these sources into the near ultraviolet.