Another Laser Company

Laser Wavelenghts

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:02:34 +0000

Below is a table of different wavelengths and what gas combination generate them. See the list after the jump.

                                                    Wavelength (nm)
        Laser Type                                  Approx.     Exact    Notes
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Fluorine (F2, Excimer-UV)                         157       157.48
   Argon Fluoride (ArF, Excimer-UV)                  193       193.3
   Krypton Chloride (KrCl, Excimer-UV)               222       222
   Helium-Silver Ion (HeAg+)                         224       224.3
   Krypton Fluoride (KrF, Excimer-UV)                248       248.4
   Neon-Copper Ion (NeCu+)                           249       248.6
   Frequency Quadrupled Nd:YLF (UV)                  262
   Frequency Quadrupled Nd:YAG (UV)                  266
   Xenon Chloride (XeCl, Excimer-UV)                 308       308.17
   Helium-Cadmium (HeCd, UV)                         325       325.029
   Nitrogen (N2, UV)                                 337       337.1  Multiple
   Xenon Fluoride (XeF, Excimer-UV)                  351       351
   Frequency Tripled Nd:YAG (NUV)                    349
   Frequency Tripled Nd:YLF (NUV)                    351
   Frequency Tripled Nd:YLF (NUV)                    355
   Calcium Vapor Ion (NUV)                           374       373.690
   Gallium Nitride (GaN, NUV to violet)            400-410       -
   Gallium Nitride (GaN, violet-blue to blue)      430-445       -
   Strontium Vapor Ion (violet)                      431       430.544
   Helium-Cadmium (HeCd, violet-blue)                442       441.565
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YVO4 (blue)                  457
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YAG (blue)                   473
   Krypton Ion (Kr+, blue)                           476       476.243
   Argon Ion (Ar+, green-blue)                       488       487.986
   Xenon Ion (Xe+, green-blue)                       499
   Copper Vapor (Cu, green)                          510       510.554
   Argon Ion (Ar+, green)                            514       514.532
   Krypton Ion (Kr+, green)                          520.8
   Xenon Ion (Xe+, green)                            526       526.012
   Krypton Ion (Kr+, green)                          530.8
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YLF (green)                  523
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YLF (green)                  527
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YVO4 (green)                 532
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YAG (green)                  532
   Xenon Ion (Xe+, green)                            542       541.915
   Helium-Neon (HeNe, green)                         543       543.5161
   Frequency Doubled Nd:YAG (yellow-green)           561
   Helium-Mercury (HeHg, green)                      567       567.717
   Krypton Ion (Kr+, yellow-green)                   568       568.188
   Copper Vapor (Cu, yellow)                         578       578.213
   Sum Frequency Nd:YVO4 (1342+1064, yellow)         593
   Helium-Neon (HeNe, yellow)                        594       594.09633
   Helium-Neon (HeNe, orange)                        612       611.97087
   Helium-Mercury (HeHg, red-orange)                 615       614.947
   Gold Vapor (Au, orange-red)                       627       627.8170
   Helium-Neon (HeNe, orange-red)                    633       632.81646
   Krypton Ion (Kr+, red)                            647       647.088
   Alexandrite (red-NIR)                           655-860               (8)
   Gallium Aluminum Arsenide (GaAlAs, red to NIR)  670-830
   Chromium:Sapphire (Ruby, Cr:AlO3, red)            694       694.3
   Chromium:LiCaF (Cr:CaF, NIR)                    720-840
   Chromium:LiSAF (Cr:LiSrAlF6, NIR)               780-920
   Chromium:LiSGaF (Cr:LiSGaF, NIR)                  820
   Gallium Arsenide (Gaas, NIR)                      840
   Titanium:Sapphire (Ti:Sapphire, red to NIR)     675-1,100     -
   Neodymium:YVO4 (Nd:YV04, NIR)                     914
   Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG, NIR)                       946       946
   Ytterbium:KGW (Yb:KGW, NIR)                   1,026-1,024     -
   Ytterbium:YAG (Yb:YAG, NIR)                      1,031    1,029.6
   Neodymium:YLF (Nd:YLF, NIR)                      1,047
   Neodymium:YLF (Nd:YLF, NIR)                      1,053    1,053
   Neodymium,Chromium:GSGG (Nd,Cr:GSGG, NIR)        1,061    1,061
   Neodymium:Glass (Nd:Glass, silica glass, NIR)    1,062
   Neodymium:LSB (Nd:LSB, NIR)                      1,062    1,062
   Neodymium,Chromium:LSB (Nd,Cr:LSB, NIR)          1,062
   Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG, NIR)                      1,064    1,064
   Neodymium:YVO4 (Nd:YV04, NIR)                    1,064    1,064
   Neodymium:KGW (Nd:KGW, NIR)                      1,067    1,067.2
   Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG, NIR)                      1,122
   Helium-Neon (HeNe, NIR)                          1,152    1,152.5900
   Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG, NIR)                      1,319    1,318.7
   Neodymium:YVO4 (Nd:YVO4, NIR)                    1,342    1,342.5
   Erbium:Glass (NIR)                               1,540    1,540
   Thulium:YAG (Tm:YAG, MIR)                     1870-2160       -
   Thulium,Chromium:YAG (Tm,Cr:YAG, MIR)            2,013    2,013.2
   Thulium:LuAG (Tm:LuAG, MIR)                   2,020-2,030             (9)
   Holmium,Thulium:YLF (Ho,Th:YLF, MIR)          2,047-2,059            (10)
   Holmium:YLF (Ho:YLF, MIR)                        2,060    2,050.5
   Holmium,Chromium,Thulium:YAG (Ho,Cr,Th:YAG, MIR) 2,090    2,091
   Holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG, MIR)                        2,100    2,098
   Hydrogen Fluoride (HF, MIR)                      2,700    2,700
   Erbium:YAG (Er:YAG, MIR)                         2,940    2,940.3
   Helium-Neon (HeNe, MIR)                          3,391    3,391.2224
   Deuterium Fluoride (DF, MIR)                  3,600-4,200            (11)
   Carbon Dioxide (CO2, FIR) (12)                   9,600    9,600    Multiple
   Carbon Dioxide (CO2, FIR) (12)                  10,600   10,600    Multiple

(source http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserioi.htm#ioicav)

Cheap YELLOW/ORANGE laser!

admin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:40:18 +0000

I’ve been looking at buying a 593.5nm yellow / orange laser before and after a lot of research, Tech Lasers has a great price of $299. This is really tempting….

Does anyone have one? Please leave your feedback on it in the comments!

From their page:

Synthesized from two separate laser beams, a 1064nm and a 1342nm laser beam, the Xerex orange laser is a landmark in Laser technology with its unprecedented use of micro diodes to produce a vivid 593.5nm orange beam. It is truly a magnificent rare new technology that’s a must have for laser pointer collectors.

Average Output Power	2mW
Wavelength	594nm (Orange)
Dimensions (mm)	150 X 13
Power Supply	2 x 1.5V “AAA” batteries
Switch	Momentary On/Off Button
Operation Mode	CW
Transverse Mode	TEM00
Beam Diameter	1.0mm
Beam Divergence	<1.5 mRad
Operating Temperature	15-35 C
Diode MTTF	>5000 hours
Warranty Period	6 months

Blue laser & Polygon Scanner

admin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:00:02 +0000

Here is a video I made playing with my blue DPSS laser (Wicked Lasers Spyder II) and my polygon scanner from Mi Lasers.

Enjoy!

Want to share it? Be sure to check out the YouTube link

Wicked Lasers Torch?

admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:34:56 +0000

Does anyone have a Wicked Lasers torch? I’d love to get one. If anyone has feedback, could you please post your thoughts in the comments?

RGB Scanner Effects

admin — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:05:02 +0000

I’ve had some time to experiment with my new Sypder II BX and I wanted to share another video montage I’ve created. The same three lasers were used in this video as before.

This video shows a close-up for the working laser disc components, beam effects and the projected image. This is my favorite video so far. Check it out!

View the full post for the video:

Lasers Used:

Wicked Lasers Nexus (Green)
Wicked Lasers Pulsar (Red)
Wicked Lasers Spyder II BX (Blue)

The original post: http://www.anotherlasercompany.com/2008/02/24/rgb-scanner-experiments/

Want to share the video? Use the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aE8l0gq9wM

A Spyder III is in the works!

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:30:12 +0000

I just got a message in my inbox that Wicked Lasers is working on a 3rd verison of their powerful Spyder series. For those who didn’t get the email, the message is below:

Oh yea, AND YOU CAN WIN ONE

Hi Laser Community,

It’s time for The YouTube Challenge! Pull that video recorder out of that closet and get those batteries charging. We’re looking for creative videos to place on the homepage of Laser Community. The videos could be funny, artistic, or could even be a Wicked Lasers commercial showcasing our lasers. Get this, the GRAND WINNER will receive the not yet released Spyder III laser unit with an average output of above 400mW!! For more information, please visit http://www.lasercommunity.com/the-youtube-challenge-win-a-spyder-iii-laser-t16970.html.

Good Luck,

Wicked Lasers

Nonlinear Optics / KTP

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:20:01 +0000

I just found a great article on how frequency doubling works in nonlinear optics. This is the process that is used to create your 532nm lasers (among other colors.) Below is a brief summary of the article. Check out the links for more information.

One of the most commonly-used frequency-mixing processes is frequency doubling or second-harmonic generation. With this technique, the 1064-nm output from Nd:YAG lasers or the 800-nm output from Ti:sapphire lasers can be converted to visible light, with wavelengths of 532 nm (green) or 400 nm (violet), respectively.

Practically, frequency-doubling is carried out by placing a special crystal in a laser beam under a well-chosen angle. Commonly-used crystals are BBO (β-barium borate), KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate), KTP (potassium titanyl phosphate), and lithium niobate. These crystals have the necessary properties of being strongly birefringent organic polymeric materials are set to take over from crystals as they are cheaper to make, have lower drive voltages and superior performance. (necessary to obtain phase matching, see below), having a specific crystal symmetry and of course being transparent for and resistant against the high-intensity laser light. However,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonlinear_optics

Also, be sure to check out this article. It contains information on one of the specific compounds which make our green lasers possible:

Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO₄) or KTP is a nonlinear optical material which is commonly used for frequency doubling diode pumped solid-state lasers such as Nd:YAG and other neodymium-doped lasers. The material has a relatively high optical damage threshold (~15 J/cm²), a great optical nonlinearity and excellent thermal stability. However, it is prone to photochromic damage (called grey tracking) during high-power 1064nm second-harmonic generation which tends to limit its use to low- and mid-power systems.

It is also frequently used as an optical parametric oscillator for near IR generation up to 4 µm. It is particularly suited to high power operation as an optical parametric oscillator due to its high damage threshold and large crystal aperture. The high degree of birefringent walkoff between the pump signal and idler beams present in this material limit its use as an optical parametric oscillator for very low power applications.

KTP is also used as an electrooptic modulator, optical waveguide material, and in directional couplers.

KTP has orthorhombic crystal structure. It is highly transparent for wavelengths between 350–2700 nm with a reduced transmission out to 4500 nm where the crystal is effectively opaque. Its second harmonic generation KDP. It has a Mohs hardness of about 5. (SHG) coefficient is about threfold higher than

Crack-free fibers of KTP can be prepared from suitable organometallic compounds (usually ethyl alkoxides of potassium and titanium, and butyl ester of phosphoric acid).

KTP crystals coupled with Nd:YAG or Nd:YVO₄ crystals are commonly found in green laser pointers.

Other such materials include KTiOAsO₄

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_titanyl_phosphate

WL Pulsar and Phoenix

admin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:56:06 +0000

I found a great video on YouTube of a Wicked Laser’s fan experimenting with his Pulsar and Phoenix. He does some basic refractive tricks as well as some long exposure photography. I love this kind of stuff Check it out:

product-reviews.net - TechLasers

admin — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:38:20 +0000

The guys over at Product Review seem to love their new TechLasers Infinity 125. I think their opening line sums it up best:

I have to say the Infiniti 125mW Green Laser Pointer from techlasers is my favorite gadget by far and to take it a step further probably the best gadget I have got my hands on in a very long time.

Read their full review here and be sure to check out the photos:

http://www.product-reviews.net/

RGB Scanner Experiments

admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:17:38 +0000

I created a video of my 3 Wicked Lasers in use at the same time. It took some careful positioning of the beams but I managed to focus all three on the scanner assembly and to project three images at the same time. I used my open loop scanner to project the light and a combination of LaserLine and iTunes (Nine Inch Nails) to produce the image.

The base image was a rotating circle created using laser line. It was then modulated according to the music to create a more visually appealing result. the benefit of this method is that it avoids the diagonal shape that my scanner normally produces.

The effects are amazing! Check it out:

View the full post for the video:

Lasers Used:

Wicked Lasers Nexus (Green)
Wicked Lasers Pulsar (Red)
Wicked Lasers Spyder II BX ( Blue)

See the follow up video here: http://www.anotherlasercompany.com/2008/03/25/rgb-scanner-effects/