New violet laser developed at IKZ

Lasers with short-wave visible light in the blue or violet range have many practical applications. They are used in metalworking, for example, especially with metals such as copper, which strongly reflect infrared light but absorb blue-violet light. They are also needed in microscopy to excite fluorescent phosphors. In addition, UV radiation in the UV-C range can be generated comparatively easily from such lasers by doubling the frequency.

Even though blue-violet laser diodes based on the semiconductor material InGaN already exist, solid-state lasers offer clear advantages such as a better beam quality and the possibility for simple integration of additional functions such as intracavity frequency doubling.

The ZLM researchers' new laser uses trivalent terbium (Tb3+) as the laser-active element, which is incorporated into the matrix of the host crystal lithium yttrium fluoride (YLF) as a dopant during the growth process. Two previously unused transitions in the terbium ion are used to generate blue-violet laser radiation at 413 nm and 435 nm.

Full press release can be found under the link below.