LOW COST SOLID STATE LASER

An inexpensive blue laser source is needed to satisfy the market for high density data storage: a storage density of up to 3 GB on a CD becomes economically feasible if the laser cost can be reduced sufficiently. However, the lowest cost configuration, in which an infrared diode laser is frequency doubled in a nonlinear waveguide, does not offer the capacity for blue light generation at high evough power levels. We have devised a modified waveguide fabrication technique which can significantly reduce the device cost and increase the output power. In Phase I we will demonstrate the technology behind our new waveguide approach and in Phase II we will optimize the design and demonstrate its full potential.