CO2 Laser to KTP?

[wummi]

Hello, somethin crossed my mind today: all the DPSS green Lasers are KTP crystals pumped with 1064nm. A CO2 Laser emitts 1060 nm.

would this work? does a ktp do its job even at 4nm less? would it be possible to use a relativly cheap multi-watt co2 laser to pump a huge KTP cristal to get a really powerful green ( in this case 530nm) laser?

it's not really pumping, is it? the ktp doesnt actually lase, does it? i just doubles the frequency.. anyhow, i dont know the correct phrase for whats happening there

 

[brtaman]

Hey,

Your missing a zero on the CO2 wavelenght its 10600 (10640 according to one source who says its exactly 10x that of YAG) nm while YAGs primary line lases on the 1064 nm wavelength.

Even if you could possibly get a wavelength that far IR to work with KTP (not possiblewith any SHG crysta) and double its frequency, you would still be extremely far infra-red. 808nm is about where it ends for us humans and our pathetic eye sight

 

[wummi]

oh dayum. i'm stupid... sorry you all! could have noticed that by myself :-[

 

[brtaman]

Hey no need to apoligize! Thats what the forum is here for. So we learn something new about lasers, while thinking up out-of-the-box ideas, sometimes they work sometimes they are completely impossible, but its a cool process.

 

[wummi]

yes thats true

so the cheapest power-to-price ratio in the visible spectrum is still argon, as it seems

 

[diachi]

yes thats true

so the cheapest power-to-price ratio in the visible spectrum is still argon, as it seems

Somehow I don't think so  : 60mW of argon = $x-x-x-x , 60mW of green = $30  :

 

[potatorage]

I think he's talking about the several Watt argons, they are the best mW/ cost for a higher power

 

[nikokapo]

Ok, let's take the idea at least and make it a topic for this thread so as not to let it die!

Even though you missed a 0, if that wasn't the problem then my theory is that 4nm are a big difference, you have to take into account that you're not just using 1064nm for the laser, you are using polarized crystals to play with the frequency/wavelength, thus the 4nm difference will vary. When you get the final results you WILL notice a change in colour (and if the wavelength you used was not the one the crystals were prepared to work with then I don't think you'll be getting the most power out of them).
Think about 650nm and 635nm pointers, it's just 15nm different but it is different to our eyes (I've never owned a 635nm pointer, but people who own one say it is far more visible than a 650nm one, and more attractive).


Comments?

 

[potatorage]

As he said, 4nM is huge when doing stuff like that- there's a reason why cold greenies don't work :

 

[wummi]

]I think he's talking about the several Watt argons, they are the best mW/ cost for a higher power

true, i was thinking about 2-5 watt

]As he said, 4nM is huge when doing stuff like that- there's a reason why cold greenies don't work :

isn't that because of the temperature of the ktp, cause it gets crazy inefficient below ~15°C ?

ir laserdiodes seem pretty constant in their wavelength. considering temperature

 

[wummi]

found this:

notice: this is not KTP, but MgO:LN, but i think i remember KTP having a similar efficiency-curve, just a bit more to the left

 

[diachi]

]I think he's talking about the several Watt argons, they are the best mW/ cost for a higher power

oh so multiwatt? so it would be $x-x-x-x-x now ? for a 2W argon your looking at $10,000+

-Adam

 

[ElektroFreak]

I just wonder what kinds of cool colored fire a KTP crystal would make as it burst into flame while being used with a CO2 laser..