Optically Quantum-Well-Pumped Semiconductor Disk Lasers for Single- and Dual-Wavelength Emission

We present a design and output characteristics of an optically quantum-well-pumped semiconductor laser for single- and dual-wavelength emission which has a resonant disk structure for two wavelengths that lie 36.7 nm apart. The smaller resonance wavelength is intended for the pump wavelength of 940 nm. Laser emission, however, can either take place at the short and/or at the long resonance wavelength. A switch between the emission wavelengths is performed by moving the gain peak towards the desired wavelength. For instance, while the heat-sink of the laser is kept at -15 degrees C the laser will only emit a wavelength of 957.0 nm, a change of the heat-sink temperature to 50 degrees C does result in an emission at the other resonance wavelength located at 997.5 nm. In both cases slope efficiencies above 50 % and output powers beyond 10 W are possible. Limiting factor is the available pump power. A simultaneous emission at 960.8 and 997.5 nm is observed for heat-sink temperatures between 21.3 and 27.1 degrees C. The intra-cavity performed sum-frequency generation (SFG) of the dual-wavelength laser leads to an emission at 489.7 nm.