Coherent 532 nm, Low-Noise Pump Lasers Now Exceed 18 Watts

These new Verdi G12, Verdi G15, and Verdi G18 lasers offer a choice of 12, 15, and 18 Watts, in a redesigned laser head that is only 40% the volume of previous models, now measuring only 68 mm x 98 mm x 214 mm (2.68 in. x 3.86 in. x 8.42 in.). Moreover they provide the same low noise, low cost of ownership, long lifetime, and other advantages of earlier lower power models. Specifically, these new Verdi G lasers deliver a vertically (> 100:1) polarized output beam with M2 < 1.1, and < 0.02% total noise measured over a very wide frequency range (10 Hz to 100 MHz). They are backed by a 2 year/10,000 hour warranty, with a mean time to failure (MTTF) of the critical pump diodes of > 50,000 hours.

The low noise of Verdi G lasers is a direct result of Coherent’s unique optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) technology. In particular, the short upper state lifetime of the gain medium in these lasers completely eliminates “green noise” that can compromise the overall performance of multi-longitudinal mode 532 nm solid state lasers. In addition, the thin OPSL gain medium and its efficient rear surface cooling means these lasers do not suffer from thermal lensing. This allows the power of Verdi G lasers to be varied between 10-100% of maximum output, with no effect whatsoever on the output beam parameters. This enhances their flexibility and value, particularly in multi-user situations.

The new Verdi G12, Verdi G15, and Verdi G18 are intended primarily for pumping Titanium:Sapphire (Ti:S) laser oscillators, such as the Coherent Mira, where their increased power will enable tunable, mode-locked output of more than 4 Watts. Moreover, the 15 and 18 Watt models have sufficient power to optimally pump both a Ti:S oscillator and a high-repetition regenerative amplifier, such as the Coherent RegA series, reducing total system complexity and cost.