Generation of third harmonic picosecond pulses at 355 nm by sum frequency mixing in periodically poled MgSLT crystal

Third harmonic 355nm picosecond pulses are generated by sum frequency mixing in a periodically poled magnesium doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPMgSLT) crystal. The third harmonic generation is based on the 1064nm radiation of a gain-switched distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser which is amplified by a two-stage fiber amplifier. The diode laser is freely triggerable at variable repetition rates up to 80MHz and provides optical pulses of 65 ps FWHM duration and pulse energies in the range of 5 pJ. The 355nm third harmonic generation is realized in a two-step conversion process. First, the 1064nm fundamental radiation is frequency-doubled to 532 nm, afterwards both frequencies are mixed in the PPMgSLT crystal to 355 nm. The UV-radiation shows a pulse width of 60 ps, a good beam profile and stable pulse energy over a wide range of repetition rates by proprietary pump power management. At 355nm a pulse peak power of 5.3W was achieved with 192W pulse peak power of the fundamental radiation.