Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 September 2012
We describe an efficient continuous-wave diode-pumped Nd:YLiF4 laseroscillating on the σ-polarized4F3/2-4I13/2transition at λω = 1312 nm. With a simplelinear cavity laser, we reached an intracavity power of 310 W at λ = 1312nm for 16 W of absorbed pump power(λp ~ 806 nm). A 0.25 W of tunableradiation (λ2ω = 656−658 nm) was obtainedby intracavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) with a 5 × 5 × 7mm3β-BaB2O4 crystal. Up to 10 mW oftunable single-frequency operation was observed using a 200 μm thin fusedsilica intracavity solid etalon. The optimal waist for a maximum conversion efficiency hasbeen calculated theoretically using Boyd and Kleiman model. For the 1312–656 nm SHG, wefound a walk-off parameter B = 8.99 and an optimal waist of 25μm. Comparing to the experimental measurement of the optimal waist, wefound a relative discrepancy of 2.84 × 10-2. This laser is dedicated to thespectroscopic study of silver atoms trapped in a buffer-gas-free paraffin coated Pyrexcell that will be used in a compact atomic optical clock.