Compact diode-pumped solid-state lasers

Abstract: Compact diode-pumped solid-state lasers (DPSSL) arecontinuously replacing traditional gas lasers as well asenabling completely new technology. However, compact and costefficient designs are required to satisfy end-user demands. Theaim of this thesis was therefore to investigate novel laserdesigns for given applications considering these demands. In alarge part of the thesis work, nonlinear optics were employedto realize laser wavelengths where there was no appropriatelaser transition available.Besides other nonlinear crystals such as BBO, LBO and KTP,periodically poled KTP played an important role in this thesiswork. Its unique properties regarding up conversion processeswere exploited, thus supplying a broadened view over itspotential and limitations.This thesis places emphasis on practical concerns, mainlyrelated to real applications. It gives solutions to the beamshaping of laser diodes, covers the simulation and the designof laser dynamics as well as laser performance and describesthe sources of laser output degradation and damage mechanisms.Novel infrared lasers were designed and multiple intra-cavity,external cavity and non-resonant multi-pass frequencyconversion schemes were successfully employed and optimized.These produced red, orange, green, blue and ultraviolet outputfor various applications like spectroscopy, micro machining andwriting of fiber Bragg gratings.Keywords:diode-pumped solid-state lasers, nonlinearoptics, frequency conversion,