Tunable visible lasers based on efficient NCPM frequency-doubling of LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ in LBO

Summary form only given. Red-green tunable lasers are required for a range of applications in dermatology, remote sensing, and surf zone imaging. Here we report the demonstration of an efficient route to tunability in this region based upon frequency-doubling of a pulsed Nd:YAG pumped LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ color center laser in non-critically phase-matched (NCPM) lithium triborate (LBO). By optimizing both the LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ laser and frequency-doubling stages, we obtain substantially higher overall optical-optical conversion efficiencies than previously reported for this route.