For the first time a single-pass frequency doubled DBR-tapered diode laser suitable for pumping Ti:sapphire lasers generating ultrashort pulses is demonstrated. The maximum output powers achieved when pumping the Ti:sapphire laser are 110 mW (CW) and 82 mW (mode-locked) respectively at 1.2 W of pump power. This corresponds to a reduction in optical conversion efficiencies to 75% of the values achieved with a commercial diode pumped solid-state laser. However, the superior electro-optical efficiency of the diode laser improves the overall efficiency of the Ti:sapphire laser by a factor > 2. The optical spectrum emitted by the Ti:sapphire laser when pumped with our diode laser shows a spectral width of 112 nm (FWHM). Based on autocorrelation measurements, pulse widths of less than 20 fs can therefore be expected.

© 2011 OSA

1. O. Svelto, S. Longhi, G. Della Valle, S. Kück, G. Huber, M. Pollnau, H. Hillmer, S. Hansmann, R. Engelbrecht, H. Brand, J. Kaiser, A. B. Peterson, R. Malz, S. Steinberg, G. Marowsky, U. Brinkmann, D. Lot, A. Borsutzky, H. Wächter, M. W. Sigrist, E. Saldin, E. Schneidmiller, M. Yurkov, K. Midorikawa, J. Hein, R. Sauerbrey, and J. Helmcke, “Lasers and coherent light sources,” in Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics, F. Träger, ed. (Springer Science and Business Media, 2007).
2. P. F. Moulton, “Spectroscopic and laser characteristics of Ti:Al2O3,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(1), 125–133 (1986). [CrossRef]
3. A. Unterhuber, B. Pova ay, K. Bizheva, B. Hermann, H. Sattmann, A. Stingl, T. Le, M. Seefeld, R. Menzel, M. Preusser, H. Budka, C. Schubert, H. Reitsamer, P. K. Ahnelt, J. E. Morgan, A. Cowey, and W. Drexler, “Advances in broad bandwidth light sources for ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography,” Phys. Med. Biol. 49(7), 1235–1246 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. P. Planken and H. Bakker, “Towards time-resolved THz imaging,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 78(4), 465–469 (2004). [CrossRef]
5. B. Povazay, K. Bizheva, A. Unterhuber, B. Hermann, H. Sattmann, A. F. Fercher, W. Drexler, A. Apolonski, W. J. Wadsworth, J. C. Knight, P. S. J. Russell, M. Vetterlein, and E. Scherzer, “Submicrometer axial resolution optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 27(20), 1800–1802 (2002). [CrossRef]
6. O. Katz, A. Natan, Y. Silberberg, and S. Rosenwaks, “Standoff detection of trace amounts of solids by nonlinear Raman spectroscopy using shaped femtosecond pulses,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(17), 171116 (2008). [CrossRef]
7. M. Cui, M. Joffre, J. Skodack, and J. P. Ogilvie, “Interferometric Fourier transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering,” Opt. Express 14(18), 8448–8458 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. R. Chakkittakandy, J. A. Corver, and P. C. Planken, “Quasi-near field terahertz generation and detection,” Opt. Express 16(17), 12794–12805 (2008). [PubMed]
9. J. Koch, E. Fadeeva, M. Engelbrecht, C. Ruffert, H. Gatzen, A. Ostendorf, and B. Chichkov, “Maskless nonlinear lithography with femtosecond laser pulses,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 82(1), 23–26 (2006). [CrossRef]
10. J. Koch, F. Korte, C. Fallnich, A. Ostendorf, and B. N. Chichkov, “Direct-write subwavelength structuring with femtosecond laser pulses,” Opt. Eng. 44(5), 051103 (2005). [CrossRef]
11. R. Graf, A. Fernandez, M. Dubov, H. Brueckner, B. Chichkov, and A. Apolonski, “Pearl-chain waveguides written at megahertz repetition rate,” Appl. Phys. B 87(1), 21–27 (2007). [CrossRef]
12. D. E. Spence, P. N. Kean, and W. Sibbett, “60-fsec pulse generation from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser,” Opt. Lett. 16(1), 42–44 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. G. F. Albrecht, J. M. Eggleston, and J. J. Ewing, “Measurements of Ti3+:Al2O3 as a lasing material,” Opt. Commun. 52(6), 401–404 (1985). [CrossRef]
14. P. Albers, E. Stark, and G. Huber, “Continuous-wave laser operation and quantum efficiency of titanium-doped sapphire,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(1), 134–139 (1986). [CrossRef]
15. G. T. Maker and A. I. Ferguson, “Ti:sapphire laser pumped by a frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser,” Opt. Lett. 15(7), 375–377 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. T. Imahoko, K. Takasago, M. Kamata, J. Sakuma, T. Sumiyoshi, H. Sekita, and M. Obara, “Development of a highly stable Yb:YAG thin disk pulsed green laser for high power Ti:sapphire based amplifier at 100 kHz repetition rate,” Appl. Phys. B 89(2-3), 217–222 (2007). [CrossRef]
17. G. K. Samanta, C. K. Suddapalli, K. Devi, and M. Ebrahim-Zadeh, “Fiber-laser-pumped Ti:sapphire laser,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2010), paper JTuD115.
18. A. Knigge, G. Erbert, J. Jonsson, W. Pittroff, R. Staske, B. Sumpf, M. Weyers, and G. Tränkle, “Passively cooled 940 nm laser bars with 73% wall-plug efficiency at 70 W and 25°C,” Electron. Lett. 41(5), 250–251 (2005). [CrossRef]
19. M. Kanskar, T. Earles, T. Goodnough, E. Stiers, D. Botez, and L. Mawst, “73% CW power conversion efficiency at 50 W from 970 nm diode laser bars,” Electron. Lett. 41(5), 245–247 (2005). [CrossRef]
20. M. Behringer, “High-power diode laser technology and characteristics,” in High Power Diode Lasers: Technology and Applications, F. Bachmann, P. Loosen, and R. Poprawe, eds. (Springer, 2007)
21. B. Resan, E. Coadou, S. Petersen, A. Thomas, P. Walther, R. Viselga, J.-M. Heritier, J. Chilla, W. Tulloch, and A. Fry, “Ultrashort pulse Ti:sapphire oscillators pumped by optically pumped semiconductor (OPS) pump lasers,” Proc. SPIE 6871, 687116, 687116-8 (2008). [CrossRef]
22. P. W. Roth, A. J. Maclean, D. Burns, and A. J. Kemp, “Direct diode-laser pumping of a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser,” Opt. Lett. 36(2), 304–306 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
23. H. Ohta, S. P. DenBaars, and S. Nakamura, “Future of group-III nitride semiconductor green laser diodes,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(11), B45–B49 (2010). [CrossRef]
24. B. Sumpf, K.-H. Hasler, P. Adamiec, F. Bugge, F. Dittmar, J. Fricke, H. Wenzel, M. Zorn, G. Erbert, and G. Tränkle, “High-brightness quantum well tapered lasers,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15(3), 1009–1020 (2009). [CrossRef]
25. O. B. Jensen, P. E. Andersen, B. Sumpf, K.-H. Hasler, G. Erbert, and P. M. Petersen, “1.5 W green light generation by single-pass second harmonic generation of a single-frequency tapered diode laser,” Opt. Express 17(8), 6532–6539 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
26. K.-H. Hasler, B. Sumpf, P. Adamiec, F. Bugge, J. Fricke, P. Ressel, H. Wenzel, G. Erbert, and G. Tränkle, “5 W DBR-tapered lasers emitting at 1060 nm with a narrow spectral linewidth and a nearly diffraction-limited beam quality,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20(19), 1648–1650 (2008). [CrossRef]
27. K. Paschke, J. Behrendt, M. Maiwald, J. Fricke, H. Wenzel, and G. Erbert, “High power single-mode 980 nm DBR-tapered diode lasers with integrated sixth order surface gratings based on simplified fabrication process,” Proc. SPIE 6184, 618401 (2006). [CrossRef]
28. A. Unterhuber, B. Považay, B. Hermann, H. Sattmann, W. Drexler, V. Yakovlev, G. Tempea, C. Schubert, E. M. Anger, P. K. Ahnelt, M. Stur, J. E. Morgan, A. Cowey, G. Jung, T. Le, and A. Stingl, “Compact, low-cost Ti:Al2O3 laser for in vivo ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 28(11), 905–907 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
29. A. Yariv, Optical Electronics, 4th ed. (Saunders College Publishing, 1991).

Appl. Phys. B

• R. Graf, A. Fernandez, M. Dubov, H. Brueckner, B. Chichkov, and A. Apolonski, “Pearl-chain waveguides written at megahertz repetition rate,” Appl. Phys. B 87(1), 21–27 (2007). [CrossRef]
• T. Imahoko, K. Takasago, M. Kamata, J. Sakuma, T. Sumiyoshi, H. Sekita, and M. Obara, “Development of a highly stable Yb:YAG thin disk pulsed green laser for high power Ti:sapphire based amplifier at 100 kHz repetition rate,” Appl. Phys. B 89(2-3), 217–222 (2007). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• O. Katz, A. Natan, Y. Silberberg, and S. Rosenwaks, “Standoff detection of trace amounts of solids by nonlinear Raman spectroscopy using shaped femtosecond pulses,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(17), 171116 (2008). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process.

• J. Koch, E. Fadeeva, M. Engelbrecht, C. Ruffert, H. Gatzen, A. Ostendorf, and B. Chichkov, “Maskless nonlinear lithography with femtosecond laser pulses,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 82(1), 23–26 (2006). [CrossRef]
• P. Planken and H. Bakker, “Towards time-resolved THz imaging,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 78(4), 465–469 (2004). [CrossRef]

Electron. Lett.

• A. Knigge, G. Erbert, J. Jonsson, W. Pittroff, R. Staske, B. Sumpf, M. Weyers, and G. Tränkle, “Passively cooled 940 nm laser bars with 73% wall-plug efficiency at 70 W and 25°C,” Electron. Lett. 41(5), 250–251 (2005). [CrossRef]
• M. Kanskar, T. Earles, T. Goodnough, E. Stiers, D. Botez, and L. Mawst, “73% CW power conversion efficiency at 50 W from 970 nm diode laser bars,” Electron. Lett. 41(5), 245–247 (2005). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

• B. Sumpf, K.-H. Hasler, P. Adamiec, F. Bugge, F. Dittmar, J. Fricke, H. Wenzel, M. Zorn, G. Erbert, and G. Tränkle, “High-brightness quantum well tapered lasers,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15(3), 1009–1020 (2009). [CrossRef]

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett.

• K.-H. Hasler, B. Sumpf, P. Adamiec, F. Bugge, J. Fricke, P. Ressel, H. Wenzel, G. Erbert, and G. Tränkle, “5 W DBR-tapered lasers emitting at 1060 nm with a narrow spectral linewidth and a nearly diffraction-limited beam quality,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 20(19), 1648–1650 (2008). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• H. Ohta, S. P. DenBaars, and S. Nakamura, “Future of group-III nitride semiconductor green laser diodes,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(11), B45–B49 (2010). [CrossRef]
• P. F. Moulton, “Spectroscopic and laser characteristics of Ti:Al2O3,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(1), 125–133 (1986). [CrossRef]
• P. Albers, E. Stark, and G. Huber, “Continuous-wave laser operation and quantum efficiency of titanium-doped sapphire,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(1), 134–139 (1986). [CrossRef]

Opt. Commun.

• G. F. Albrecht, J. M. Eggleston, and J. J. Ewing, “Measurements of Ti3+:Al2O3 as a lasing material,” Opt. Commun. 52(6), 401–404 (1985). [CrossRef]

Opt. Eng.

• J. Koch, F. Korte, C. Fallnich, A. Ostendorf, and B. N. Chichkov, “Direct-write subwavelength structuring with femtosecond laser pulses,” Opt. Eng. 44(5), 051103 (2005). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• M. Cui, M. Joffre, J. Skodack, and J. P. Ogilvie, “Interferometric Fourier transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering,” Opt. Express 14(18), 8448–8458 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. Chakkittakandy, J. A. Corver, and P. C. Planken, “Quasi-near field terahertz generation and detection,” Opt. Express 16(17), 12794–12805 (2008). [PubMed]
• O. B. Jensen, P. E. Andersen, B. Sumpf, K.-H. Hasler, G. Erbert, and P. M. Petersen, “1.5 W green light generation by single-pass second harmonic generation of a single-frequency tapered diode laser,” Opt. Express 17(8), 6532–6539 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• P. W. Roth, A. J. Maclean, D. Burns, and A. J. Kemp, “Direct diode-laser pumping of a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser,” Opt. Lett. 36(2), 304–306 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Unterhuber, B. Považay, B. Hermann, H. Sattmann, W. Drexler, V. Yakovlev, G. Tempea, C. Schubert, E. M. Anger, P. K. Ahnelt, M. Stur, J. E. Morgan, A. Cowey, G. Jung, T. Le, and A. Stingl, “Compact, low-cost Ti:Al2O3 laser for in vivo ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 28(11), 905–907 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• B. Povazay, K. Bizheva, A. Unterhuber, B. Hermann, H. Sattmann, A. F. Fercher, W. Drexler, A. Apolonski, W. J. Wadsworth, J. C. Knight, P. S. J. Russell, M. Vetterlein, and E. Scherzer, “Submicrometer axial resolution optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 27(20), 1800–1802 (2002). [CrossRef]
• D. E. Spence, P. N. Kean, and W. Sibbett, “60-fsec pulse generation from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser,” Opt. Lett. 16(1), 42–44 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• G. T. Maker and A. I. Ferguson, “Ti:sapphire laser pumped by a frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser,” Opt. Lett. 15(7), 375–377 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Med. Biol.

• A. Unterhuber, B. Pova ay, K. Bizheva, B. Hermann, H. Sattmann, A. Stingl, T. Le, M. Seefeld, R. Menzel, M. Preusser, H. Budka, C. Schubert, H. Reitsamer, P. K. Ahnelt, J. E. Morgan, A. Cowey, and W. Drexler, “Advances in broad bandwidth light sources for ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography,” Phys. Med. Biol. 49(7), 1235–1246 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. SPIE

• B. Resan, E. Coadou, S. Petersen, A. Thomas, P. Walther, R. Viselga, J.-M. Heritier, J. Chilla, W. Tulloch, and A. Fry, “Ultrashort pulse Ti:sapphire oscillators pumped by optically pumped semiconductor (OPS) pump lasers,” Proc. SPIE 6871, 687116, 687116-8 (2008). [CrossRef]
• K. Paschke, J. Behrendt, M. Maiwald, J. Fricke, H. Wenzel, and G. Erbert, “High power single-mode 980 nm DBR-tapered diode lasers with integrated sixth order surface gratings based on simplified fabrication process,” Proc. SPIE 6184, 618401 (2006). [CrossRef]

Other

• M. Behringer, “High-power diode laser technology and characteristics,” in High Power Diode Lasers: Technology and Applications, F. Bachmann, P. Loosen, and R. Poprawe, eds. (Springer, 2007)
• A. Yariv, Optical Electronics, 4th ed. (Saunders College Publishing, 1991).
• G. K. Samanta, C. K. Suddapalli, K. Devi, and M. Ebrahim-Zadeh, “Fiber-laser-pumped Ti:sapphire laser,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2010), paper JTuD115.
• O. Svelto, S. Longhi, G. Della Valle, S. Kück, G. Huber, M. Pollnau, H. Hillmer, S. Hansmann, R. Engelbrecht, H. Brand, J. Kaiser, A. B. Peterson, R. Malz, S. Steinberg, G. Marowsky, U. Brinkmann, D. Lot, A. Borsutzky, H. Wächter, M. W. Sigrist, E. Saldin, E. Schneidmiller, M. Yurkov, K. Midorikawa, J. Hein, R. Sauerbrey, and J. Helmcke, “Lasers and coherent light sources,” in Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics, F. Träger, ed. (Springer Science and Business Media, 2007).

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