Intracavity sum-frequency generation of a 795 nm pulsed laser with a short pulse width based on two MgO : PPLN crystals

We report a 795 nm tunable pulsed laser with intracavity sum-frequency generation (SFG) based on an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a 1064 nm laser. The cavity consists of two periodically poled MgO : PPLN crystals, the periods of which are 22.0 and 31.0 μm. The crystal with the period of 31.0 μm is used to generate a mid-IR beam, while the other crystal is used for SFG of the pump beam and the mid-IR beam. The pulsed width of the 795 nm laser is 3.6 ns, and the repetition rate of the laser is 35.3 kHz. The peak power of the laser is 2.8 kW with a linewidth of 0.35 nm. The 795 nm laser threshold pump power is 1.4 W and the optical-to-optical efficiency of 1064 nm to 795 nm is 5.7% at a maximum output power. The laser is supposed to be a kind of a competitive near-IR laser source for studying a diode-pumped rubidium laser.