DIY 488nm Blue laser

[ZRaffleticket]

Whelp, I got this bright idea in chemistry today. I'm going to take my own hand at trying my own DDD (direct diode doubling) system out. I know how "easy" green is for more advanced laser builders but how much harder can blue possibly be?

What kind of system you may be wondering, I *hope* to make 488nm. I can directly double a diode @ 976nm through a nonlinear crystal.

I understand I must shrink the beam down to about a micrometer size and pump that through the crystal, then back out through similar optics.

My questions are: Would the standard multimode 976nm diodes work for this process? What would be the best conversion crystal (BBO?)? Where can I get the right optics cheap? Am I an idiot for thinking of trying this myself?

Note, IF I can get this running on a desk, I will attempt a handheld. If I can make myself a handheld, I will attempt more. See where I'm going with this?

 

[Flaminpyro]

GOOD LUCK :wave:

 

[rhd]

I love your mindset and enthusiasm!

Read this:
Blue-green light generation using high brilliance edge emitting diode lasers - Jechow - 2010 - Laser & Photonics Reviews - Wiley Online Library

For real, it's worth reading. I was thinking the same thing, and this PDF basically takes you through the process. There are a lot of really big challenges to address.

 

[benmwv]

I have though about this!

My idea was to use the doubling crystal from one of those broken 473nm lasers on ebay. I was thinking that the wavelengths should be close enough that the coatings would still work.

 

[ZRaffleticket]

Would this make a good crystal for the conversion?
by optics, (figure 36) are they a round double convex lens followed by a plain/concave lens?

 

[rhd]

Would this make a good crystal for the conversion?
by optics, (figure 36) are they a round double convex lens followed by a plain/concave lens?

You're putting the cart before the horse. Before you start looking for doubling crystals, you need to figure out how you're going to get a stable narrow-bandwidth 976nm.

 

[ZRaffleticket]

At first I saw this... Then I read the description "high brightness 976nm". I also fear what the price on this thing will be...

 

[Meatball]

LBO is commonly used for doubling below the green range if needed... though it can also double into green.

BBO and BiBO are worth researching however. I do not believe they have the "atmospheric moisture absorbance factor" that LBO unfortunately exhibits.

LBO can be found on Chinese laser webstores, the other optics - I do not know where to being looking.

 

[ZRaffleticket]

Oh so I can't be a hobbyist ordering that last diode. lame. Is this a good diode?

Edit: This was somewhat attmepted before?

 

[Trevor]

If direct doubling a laser diode were as easy as passing it into a doubler and watching it shit out a stream of exotic colored photons, we'd have cheap access to prettymuch any visible wavelength.

Start with something easy, like 473nm...

Trevor

 

[ZRaffleticket]

I've realigned my 473nm handheld while the parts were still... existant. not so sure where it all went.
Edit: I seemed to avoid the "difficult" comment. I'm fully aware of this, it's still a fun project to do when I have nothing else to do but burn things with my 2W 445nm

melles griot's optical diagram makes it look rediculously easy

 

[rhd]

ZRaffle:

Believe me when I say that I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out exactly this challenge - very specifically how to get 488 in a portable. I would love for you to succeed, but I think you really need to wrap your mind around the core challenges here. This is not just a mechanical issue of getting everything aligned properly. You need:

- A VERY narrow bandwidth 976nm laser source.
- That will stay LOCKED on that very narrow bandwidth of 976nm.
- That produces a very power-dense focused output.

And there are probably a number of other challenges that I haven't gotten to the stage of exploring, because until you cross the bridges outlined above, there's really no further progress to be made.

 

[Deleted member 16589]

I believe The Novolux protera Units are direct doubled using a NECSEL (Novalux-external-cavity surface-emitting-laser) diode and an SHG crystal. you could source a semi functioning one and realigning the crystals.
I read someone ether here or on PL a member had one that he tried realigning but made it worse. you may try to source a unit like that
SVCOMPUCYCLE may have a few left.

 

[Trevor]

I believe The Novolux protera Units are direct doubled using a NECSEL (Novalux-extended-cavity surface-emitting-laser) diode and an SHG crystal. you could source a semi functioning one and realigning the crystals.
I read someone ether here or on PL a member had one that he tried realigning but made it worse. you may try to source a unit like that
SVCOMPUCYCLE may have a few left.

Fixed that for you.

Trevor

 

[Deleted member 16589]

sorry for the bump but have you had any luck with this. :wave:

 

[ZRaffleticket]

I have had low funds
But, when i have a bigger income for lasers I'm still planning on trying this.