Highly efficient wavelength conversion of Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers into a red wavelength

We report a nanosecond upconversion optical parametric oscillator which can convert the output of a Nd:YAG laser at 1064-nm wavelength into 627 nm with high efficiency. This device is based on a single KTiOAsO/sub 4/ crystal that is simultaneously phase matched for optical parametric generation and sum-frequency generation. Pumped at a wavelength of 1064 nm by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in a double-pass configuration, this device produces 14.2-ns-long 5.8-mJ red pulses at a wavelength of 627 nm with 29% energy conversion efficiency. In addition, we developed a theoretical model for this device, whose predictions agree reasonably well with our experimental results. It is possible to scale this device for use with higher energy pump lasers and to shape it into a physically small semi-monolithic configuration.