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Abstract

A monolithic diode pumped solid-state laser (11) comprising as the laser host neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO.sub.4) (12, 52) or neodymium-doped gadolinium orthovanadate (Nd:GdVO.sub.4) (57, 67) operating on the .sup.4 F.sub.3/2 .fwdarw..sup.4 I.sub.9/2 (.about.914 nm or .about.912 nm respectively) transition, to which a suitable nonlinear optic material (16), such as potassium niobate (KNbO.sub.3) or beta barium borate (BBO), is bonded. The nonlinear crystal gives rise to intracavity frequency doubling to .about.457 or .about.456 nm. The microlaser is a composite cavity formed from a gain medium crystal and a nonlinear frequency doubling material which together have four spaced parallel dielectrically coated faces (14, 17, 18, 15) and which is positioned in close proximity to a diode laser pump source (13) for phase-matched harmonic generation of blue light along an axis of propagation which lies substantially perpendicular to the two faces of the composite cavity. By employing specific doping concentration-lengths products of lasant material and pumping the gain medium which has a specific crystalline orientation the desired efficient blue microlaser is achieved. Alternative embodiments combine the Nd:YVO.sub.4 and Nd:GdVO.sub.4 elements to enhance certain output characteristics of the laser.

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First Claim