490nm DPSS? alternative to argon?

[HumanSymphony]

i was looking around for 946nm diodes to make a blue 473nm dpss, but mostly i saw these 980nm pumps. potentially with a KTP you could make a 490nm laser?

 

[iewed]

I think that only works with 1064nm diodes. Other wise we'd all have DIY 404nm lasers.

 

[climbak]

there may be a way to using non-linear optics combinations to get 490, but I think argon is probably much cheaper for now and easier since there is already a large service base. I know they make 453 dpss lasers, which is the coolest laser ive ever seen, and I think there is another blue wavelength or two dpss laser out there. They are not even close to cheap though. I think the 453 I've seen is about 300mW and was about $3000

 

[HumanSymphony]

well like i said i've heard of people using a 946nm pump and a KTP crystal in front of it to get 473nm blue. all a KTP does is split the wavelength in half so this should be possible.

 

[MarioMaster]

problem is the KTP really only works well at certain wavelengths, after that the efficiency goes in the toilet so you need multiple watts of energy input to get even a few mW out

 

[HumanSymphony]

problem is the KTP really only works well at certain wavelengths, after that the efficiency goes in the toilet so you need multiple watts of energy input to get even a few mW out

ah, didn't know that bit.

 

[natabata]

there may be a way to using non-linear optics combinations to get 490, but I think argon is probably much cheaper for now and easier since there is already a large service base. I know they make 453 dpss lasers, which is the coolest laser ive ever seen, and I think there is another blue wavelength or two dpss laser out there. They are not even close to cheap though. I think the 453 I've seen is about 300mW and was about $3000

300mw for 3000?!?!!?!

that seems EXTREMELY cheap comparing what you pay for lab/lasershow grade 300mw lasers(e.g 300mw of 473nm would prolly cost about 3k too: http://cgi.ebay.com/473nm-300mW-CW-...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247)

 

[climbak]

I think the company who owns them may have gotten them as refurbished units. They still have warning stickers from 532 units on the cases. The new price is probably higher.