Efficient diode-pumped intracavity frequency-doubled CW Nd : YLF laser emitting in the red

We demonstrate an efficient continuous-wave diode-pumped Nd : YLF laser emitting in the red (660.5 and 657 nm) by intracavity frequency doubling with a LBO crystal. We obtained more than 1 W of average power (in two output beams) for 12 W of pump power with a TEM00 mode. This power is to our knowledge the highest obtained with a frequency-doubled Nd : YLF laser emitting in the red. Comparison between “a-cut” and “c-cut” crystals has been carried out in terms of performance and wavelength emission.