457 nm lasers

Some time ago, I read that 457 nm lasers were very expensive. However, 457 nm lasers do seem to be quite efficient; for example, CNI sells those that go up to 8 W.

If they are that efficient, then why would they be so expensive? Also, why has no companies started selling 457 nm portables yet?

ixfd64 said:

Some time ago, I read that 457 nm lasers were very expensive. However, 457 nm lasers do seem to be quite efficient; for example, CNI sells those that go up to 8 W.

If they are that efficient, then why would they be so expensive? Also, why has no companies started selling 457 nm portables yet?

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It's called macro economics. The market is too small to support significant mass production. Until there is a significant market for the diode, the cost per diode is much too high. For example, you could probably get one of the 457 diodes as a "research sample." It would only probably cost you $8,000.00 for that one diode. They've got to make a significant portion of the R&D costs as well as the start up and finish up costs from each diode sold. If you will find a way to use these diodes in say MP3 players (so that they can sell millions of them) the cost will come down to realistic levels.

Peace,
dave

457nm is DPSS. About the only thing I've had requests for is holography. Of course they want long coherence lasers which means single frequency or something really close which drives the price even higher.

The 914nm lasing line is a minor c-axis line of Nd:YVO pumped with an 808nm diode. It's still not that efficient.

To give an idea of how much the 457s cost we have several in my lab rated at 300mW and all were about $22k.

Yobresal has a 457nm module that cost something like $2500, but I'm not that sure.