High power optically In-well pumped 850nm VECSEL

This paper reports on an optically pumped high-power GaAs based system emitting in the 850 nm region but pumped with a "cheap" and powerful 806 nm diode laser. Such a laser is interesting for sensors and printing applications as well as laser cooling (e.g. of cesium). Frequency-doubling is expected to open new opportunities for efficient laser cooling of chromium or calcium. The VECSEL generated a maximum output of 1.02 W with slope efficiency of 10% after pump angle being optimized to be 26deg. The laser modal gain was examined and the ways of optimizing the system have been investigated and are discussed.