DPSS Microlasers Challenge Argon At 457 nm

The 58 BLD series of CW diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) microlasers is capable of producing up to 400 mW of output at 457 nm. The microlasers are available with outputs of 100, 200 and 400 mW, with the output linearly polarized. In addition, the lasers' beam quality is claimed to be excellent at an M² factor of less than 1.2. Further, amplitude noise is less than 3% and pointing stability is as low as 7 mrad/hr.
According to the company, this is the first device that provides a viable alternative to mid-sized, water-cooled argon-ion lasers for deep-blue and violet applications--the wavelength of the microlasers is said to be virtually identical to the 457.9 of argon-ion lasers. The new DPSS microlasers are available with a coherence length in excess of 5m.