Z-LASER Optoelektronik GmbH, Freiburg, Germany, has developed a blue 457 nm emitting laser module based on solid state disc laser technology. This was done together with partners Xiton Photonics and the Institute for Medical Laser Technologies of ULM University in the scope of a national funding program (ZIM) initiated by project holder Industrial Cooperative Research Associations “Otto von Guericke" e.V. (AiF, Berlin).
The objectives were ambitious with a beam quality of M2 = 1.0 and an optical power > 500 mW and a compact overall size of 300 x 200 x 200 mm. To achieve this kind of power and beam quality in such a small package, a novel kind of pumping concept needed to be developed. By utilizing an 880 nm emitting laser bar, highly efficient pumping of the solid state disc was achieved in such a compact housing size. Bulky thermal masses were eliminated with this approach without affecting the performance of the laser.
The air circulation based cooling mechanism manages without water or other costly and cumbersome equipment. This means that this is not uniquely a laboratory laser, but instead is designed and targeted to industrial and medical fields.
At the LASER trade fair in Munich, a free space emitting version of the novel blue disc laser will be presented. This laser version includes the optical system, the air cooling ventilation as well as the electronics and user interface. For OEM clients, it is possible to fully customize the system or simply offer the optical head, including the disc and pumping resonator, for integration into a customized system.