WO2012124266A1 - 波長変換レーザ光源及び画像表示装置 - Google Patents
波長変換レーザ光源及び画像表示装置 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2012124266A1 WO2012124266A1 PCT/JP2012/001355 JP2012001355W WO2012124266A1 WO 2012124266 A1 WO2012124266 A1 WO 2012124266A1 JP 2012001355 W JP2012001355 W JP 2012001355W WO 2012124266 A1 WO2012124266 A1 WO 2012124266A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/005—Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping
- H01S3/0092—Nonlinear frequency conversion, e.g. second harmonic generation [SHG] or sum- or difference-frequency generation outside the laser cavity
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/01—Head-up displays
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
- G03B21/14—Details
- G03B21/20—Lamp housings
- G03B21/2006—Lamp housings characterised by the light source
- G03B21/2033—LED or laser light sources
- G03B21/204—LED or laser light sources using secondary light emission, e.g. luminescence or fluorescence
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/05—Construction or shape of optical resonators; Accommodation of active medium therein; Shape of active medium
- H01S3/08—Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof
- H01S3/08059—Constructional details of the reflector, e.g. shape
- H01S3/08068—Holes; Stepped surface; Special cross-section
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/10—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
- H01S3/106—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating by controlling devices placed within the cavity
- H01S3/108—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating by controlling devices placed within the cavity using non-linear optical devices, e.g. exhibiting Brillouin or Raman scattering
- H01S3/109—Frequency multiplication, e.g. harmonic generation
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/136—Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a semi-conducting layer or substrate, e.g. cells forming part of an integrated circuit
- G02F1/1362—Active matrix addressed cells
- G02F1/136277—Active matrix addressed cells formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon
- G02F1/136281—Active matrix addressed cells formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon having a transmissive semiconductor substrate
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/35—Non-linear optics
- G02F1/3501—Constructional details or arrangements of non-linear optical devices, e.g. shape of non-linear crystals
- G02F1/3503—Structural association of optical elements, e.g. lenses, with the non-linear optical device
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/35—Non-linear optics
- G02F1/37—Non-linear optics for second-harmonic generation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/02—Constructional details
- H01S3/04—Arrangements for thermal management
- H01S3/0401—Arrangements for thermal management of optical elements being part of laser resonator, e.g. windows, mirrors, lenses
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/05—Construction or shape of optical resonators; Accommodation of active medium therein; Shape of active medium
- H01S3/08—Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof
- H01S3/08054—Passive cavity elements acting on the polarization, e.g. a polarizer for branching or walk-off compensation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
- H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
- H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
- H01S3/0941—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a laser diode
- H01S3/09415—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a laser diode the pumping beam being parallel to the lasing mode of the pumped medium, e.g. end-pumping
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/23—Arrangements of two or more lasers not provided for in groups H01S3/02 - H01S3/22, e.g. tandem arrangements of separate active media
- H01S3/2383—Parallel arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a wavelength conversion laser device that converts fundamental light emitted from a solid-state laser medium into second harmonic light having a frequency higher than the frequency of the fundamental light, and an image display device using the wavelength conversion laser device.
- FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional wavelength conversion laser light source using Nd: YVO 4 which is a single crystal material.
- a wavelength conversion laser light source 100 shown in FIG. 13 is an end face excitation type (end pump type laser) laser light source that inputs excitation light from the end face of the laser medium.
- an end face excitation type (end pump type laser) laser light source that inputs excitation light from the end face of the laser medium.
- a YVO 4 crystal that is a single crystal material is used.
- the excitation light PL is generated from the excitation light source 101, converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 103, and then condensed by the condenser lens 104 onto the solid laser medium 105 in the resonator 109.
- a high reflection optical film 105 a that reflects light in the 1060 nm band is formed on the end face on which the excitation light PL is incident, and the end face of the concave mirror 106 is also in the 1060 nm band.
- a highly reflective optical film 106a that reflects this light is formed.
- a resonator 109 is constituted by the high reflection optical film 105a and the high reflection optical film 106a.
- a non-reflective optical film (not shown) is formed on the end face 105 b of the solid-state laser medium 105 facing the wavelength conversion element 107 and the both end faces 111 of the wavelength conversion element 107. That is, a non-reflective optical film is formed on the surface of the solid-state laser medium 105 facing the wavelength conversion element 107 and the surface of the wavelength conversion element 107 facing the solid-state laser medium 105.
- the resonator 109 operates as an optical resonator when light resonates between the highly reflective optical film 105 a formed on the solid laser medium 105 and the highly reflective optical film 106 a formed on the end surface of the concave mirror 106.
- the oscillated 1060 nm band light passes through the wavelength conversion element 107, whereby the 1060 nm band light is wavelength-converted and converted into half-wavelength output light OL of 530 nm. Then, the converted output light OL of 530 nm is output from the end face of the wavelength conversion element 107 to the outside via the concave mirror 106.
- the solid laser medium 105 is held by a laser medium holder (not shown).
- the YVO 4 crystal used as the solid-state laser medium 105 shown in FIG. 13 is an optically anisotropic material, the incident and outgoing surfaces of the solid-state laser medium 105 are separated from each other by the a-axis and the c-axis of the crystal axis. By matching with the planes included in both, the light in the 1060 nm band to be oscillated can be made into linearly polarized light.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source it is possible to perform wavelength conversion by the nonlinear optical effect only for light having a specific polarization direction. It is important that the light emitted from the medium is linearly polarized light.
- polarized light can be obtained directly only by selecting the axial direction of the single crystal.
- wavelength conversion laser light source called an internal resonator type wavelength conversion laser light source
- an optical component called a quarter wavelength plate
- examples include wavelength conversion laser light sources disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described below.
- FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional first wavelength conversion laser light source using a wavelength plate
- FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional second wavelength conversion laser light source using a wavelength plate
- FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional third wavelength conversion laser light source using a wave plate.
- the excitation light generated from the excitation light source 101 is collimated by the objective lens 102 and then incident on the solid-state laser medium 105 via the reflection mirror 110.
- a resonator 204 is composed of the reflection mirrors 110 and 111.
- two wavelength conversion elements 107 and 108 and a wavelength plate 203 are provided inside the wavelength conversion laser light source, and the polarization direction of the harmonic laser beam generated by wavelength conversion by one wavelength conversion element 107 is determined by the wavelength plate. It is rotated by 203 and matched with the polarization direction of the harmonic laser beam generated by wavelength conversion by the other wavelength conversion element 108. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a laser beam with little fluctuation in the polarization direction with respect to a temperature change of the apparatus and a stable output.
- the excitation light generated from the excitation light source 101 is collimated by the collimator lens 103 and then condensed on the solid laser medium 105 by the condenser lens 104.
- the high-reflection optical film 105 a and the reflection mirror 111 constitute a resonator 206, and output light OL that is the second harmonic is output to the outside via the reflection mirror 111 and the wavelength filter 210.
- the resonance mode in the resonator 206 of the wavelength conversion laser light source is composed of two intrinsic polarization modes in which the fundamental laser beam is orthogonal to each other.
- the two intrinsic polarization modes are caused to resonate in a random polarization state having no phase relationship with each other, and a ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 203 is inserted into the resonator 206, so that the two intrinsic polarizations orthogonal to each other can be obtained.
- energy transfer through generation of the second harmonic is prevented.
- a practically sufficiently stable second harmonic laser beam can be generated with an easy and simple configuration.
- Patent Document 3 proposes that the optical elements constituting the resonator are independently arranged on a predetermined substrate to prevent the positional deviation of each optical element due to heat.
- a resonator 207 is constituted by a high reflection film 205a and a high reflection optical film 107a, and a configuration of the resonator 207 using an optical component 205 in which a wave plate and a lens are combined is disclosed. ing.
- FIG. 17 is a plot diagram in which the input intensity of excitation light is plotted on the horizontal axis and the output intensity of green light, which is the output light of the wavelength converted laser light source, is plotted on the vertical axis, as output characteristics of a conventional wavelength converted laser light source.
- FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wavelength conversion laser light source in which the output characteristics shown in FIG. 17 are measured.
- the excitation light PL output from the excitation light source 101 passes through the collimator lens 103 and the condenser lens 104 and is incident on the solid-state laser medium 105.
- a highly reflective optical film 105a that reflects a 1064 nm band for constituting a laser resonator is formed.
- the highly reflective optical film 105a and the highly reflective optical film 106a of the concave mirror 106 are formed.
- a laser resonator is configured from the above.
- the 1064 nm light (fundamental wave light) generated in the laser resonator passes through the wavelength conversion element 107, it is converted to 532 nm which is a half wavelength, and is emitted from the concave mirror 106 to the outside as output light OL.
- the wave plate 203 is inserted between the solid-state laser medium 105 and the wavelength conversion element 107.
- FIG. 17 As a result of measuring the output characteristics of the conventional wavelength conversion laser light source configured as described above, a plot diagram shown in FIG. 17 was obtained. As shown in FIG. 17, when the excitation light input becomes 1.5 W or more (around 200 mW in the green light output), the output starts to become unstable, and the excitation light input becomes 3 W or more (in the green light output). In addition to the instability of the output, it became clear that the green light output deviates by about 15% from the calculated output predicted value (calculated value).
- An object of the present invention is to provide a wavelength conversion laser light source and an image display device capable of stably outputting the second harmonic after wavelength conversion at a high output even when a wave plate is inserted in the laser resonator. It is to be.
- a wavelength-converted laser light source is a solid-state laser medium that receives excitation light and generates fundamental light, and converts the fundamental light into second harmonic light having a frequency higher than the frequency of the fundamental light.
- a laser resonator is constituted by the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, and the solid-state laser medium is disposed on the first reflecting surface side of the laser resonator.
- the wavelength plate is disposed on the second reflecting surface side of the laser resonator, the wavelength conversion element is disposed between the solid-state laser medium and the wavelength plate, and the wavelength plate has the wavelength Converted by the conversion element The second harmonic wave through the second reflecting surface for outputting to the outside of the resonator.
- An image display device includes the above-described wavelength conversion laser light source, a laser light source that generates laser light, a modulation element that modulates the laser light to form an image, the laser light source, and the And a controller for controlling the modulation element.
- the second harmonic wave after wavelength conversion can be stably output with high output.
- FIG. 1 It is a typical perspective view which shows the structure of an example of the wavelength plate with a cooling unit used for the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. It is the figure which compared the prior art example and Embodiment 2 and plotted the green light output with respect to excitation light input.
- FIG. 2 It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the wavelength conversion laser light source which is the 1st modification by Embodiment 2 of this invention.
- FIG. 2 shows the structure of the wavelength conversion laser light source which is the 2nd modification by Embodiment 2 of this invention.
- the schematic shows the structure of the laser projector apparatus using the wavelength conversion laser light source by Embodiment 1 or 2 of this invention.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a wavelength conversion laser light source according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. 1 includes an excitation light source 1, a collimating lens 3, a condenser lens 4, a solid laser medium 5, a concave mirror 6, a wavelength conversion element 7, a ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8, and an optical film 9.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. 1 is an end face excitation type (end pump type laser) laser light source that inputs excitation light from the end face of the laser medium.
- the excitation light PL is generated from the excitation light source 1, converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 3, and then condensed by the condenser lens 4 on the solid laser medium 5 disposed in the laser resonator 2.
- the laser resonator 2 includes a solid-state laser medium 5 and a wavelength conversion element 7, and for the solid-state laser medium 5, for example, an isotropic single crystal material or a ceramic laser medium is used.
- the solid-state laser medium 5 that has received the condensed excitation light generates fundamental wave light and outputs the fundamental wave light to the wavelength conversion element 7.
- the wavelength conversion element 7 converts the fundamental light into a second harmonic having a higher frequency than the fundamental light.
- the difference between the present embodiment and the conventional wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. 13 is that the concave mirror on the side close to the excitation light source 1 on which the excitation light PL is incident among the mirrors constituting the laser resonator 2. 6 is disposed, and a ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 on which an optical film 9 that functions as an output mirror is formed is disposed on the output side of the output light OL.
- the end surface of the concave mirror 6 on the solid-state laser medium 5 side reflects light in the 1060 nm band (fundamental wave light) oscillated from the solid-state laser medium 5 and light in the 530 nm band that is a harmonic (second harmonic) thereof.
- a highly reflective optical film 6a serving as a first reflecting surface is formed.
- the concave mirror 6 reflects light in the 1060 nm band by the highly reflective optical film 6 a and focuses it in the solid-state laser medium 5.
- an optical film 9 that reflects light in the 1060 nm band oscillated from the solid-state laser medium 5 and transmits light in the 530 nm band, which is a harmonic thereof, is used as an output mirror on the output side end face of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8. Is formed.
- the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 has a flat plate shape, and the optical film 9 formed on the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 also has a flat plate shape.
- the optical film 9 has a second reflecting surface. Functions as a flat mirror.
- the gap between the end face of the concave mirror 6 (high reflection optical film 6a) and the end face of the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8 (optical film 9) is an optical laser resonator 2, and the light in the 1060 nm band is a laser. It oscillates.
- the laser-oscillated 1060 nm band light passes through the wavelength conversion element 7, a part of the 1060 nm band light is converted into harmonic light of 530 nm band.
- the wavelength-converted light in the 530 nm band is output to the outside of the laser resonator 2 from the optical film 9 formed on the end face of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 which finally becomes an output mirror.
- the solid laser medium 5 is disposed on the high reflection optical film 6a side of the laser resonator 2
- the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 is disposed on the optical film 9 side of the laser resonator 2
- the solid laser medium 5 and ⁇ A wavelength conversion element 7 is arranged between the / 4 wavelength plate 8.
- MgO-added lithium niobate having a periodically poled structure is selected as an example of the material constituting the wavelength conversion element 7.
- the wavelength conversion element 7 among the nonlinear optical materials, in addition to the MgO-added lithium niobate having a periodically poled structure, the MgO-added lithium tantalate, the MgO-added lithium niobate having a stoichiometric composition, the stoichiometric composition Similar effects can be obtained by using MgO-added lithium tantalate and potassium titanyl phosphate (commonly known as KTP, KTiOPO 4 ).
- the horizontal axis represents the input power of the pumping light emitted from the pumping light source 101 shown in FIG. 18 and incident on the solid-state laser medium 105, and the vertical axis represents the wavelength conversion shown in FIG.
- the output power of the green light output from the laser light source is shown.
- the wavy line indicates an assumed output value (calculated value) that is assumed to be output by design, and the black circles are actually output actual values. For example, when the excitation light input is 4 W, it can be seen that, although green light of 800 mW or more is supposed to be output, only about 700 mW is output. In addition to this point, even when the excitation light input is near 1.5 W, output instability in which the output value fluctuates is observed, and a phenomenon in which the actually measured value deviates from the assumed output value is observed.
- the wavelength plate 203 when the excitation light input is 4 W and the green light output is less than or equal to the assumed output value, if the wavelength plate 203 is rotated to manipulate the wavelength rotation amount, the green light output tends to recover at the moment of rotation. However, a phenomenon of decreasing to the original 700 mW in several tens of seconds was observed. Therefore, it was considered that the wavelength plate 203 has a cause of output instability and reduction.
- FIG. 2 shows the result of measuring the temperature rise of the wave plate 203 inserted in the resonator with a radiation thermometer. As a result of measuring the place about 1 mm away from the position through which the laser beam passes, it is clear from FIG. 2 that the temperature of the wave plate 203 rises as the excitation light input is increased.
- a high reflection optical film 107 a that reflects harmonic light (532 nm) is provided on the end face of the wavelength conversion element 107, so that the harmonic light is not incident on the wave plate 203. A similar temperature rise was confirmed.
- the amount of heat generated by the wave plate 203 due to light absorption with respect to the excitation light (808 nm) and the fundamental wave light (1064 nm) was measured.
- the amount of heat generated was not the total amount of heat generated by the wave plate 203, but was measured with a radiation thermometer in a ring shape at a position about 300 ⁇ m away from the position where the beam (excitation light or fundamental light) passes.
- the result is shown in FIG.
- FIG. 3 it was found that the temperature rise of the wave plate 203 was larger in the excitation light (808 nm) than in the fundamental wave light (1064 nm). That is, it has been found that the absorption of the excitation light (808 nm) is more dominant than the fundamental wave light (1064 nm) with respect to the temperature rise occurring in the wave plate 203.
- the reason why the light output from the wavelength conversion laser light source becomes unstable or that an output smaller than expected is obtained is the temperature characteristic of the wavelength plate 203, that is, the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate. It was.
- the present embodiment has been devised as a configuration that can obtain good characteristics without using a zero-order wavelength plate or a high-purity quartz material. The same applies to the following second embodiment and the like.
- ⁇ / is located at the position farthest from the solid-state laser medium 5 on which the excitation light is incident in the laser resonator 2 on the side where the harmonics are output, that is, in the laser resonator 2. Since the four-wave plate 8 is arranged, the excitation light (808 nm) that has the greatest influence on the output reduction due to absorption hardly reaches the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8. For this reason, the temperature rise of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 due to light absorption can be reduced, and further, the polarization rotation due to the temperature rise of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the phenomenon that the output of the laser light output from the wavelength conversion laser light source becomes unstable and the phenomenon that the output decreases from the assumed output value.
- the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 is disposed on the output side, and the fundamental wave light (1064 nm) is reflected on the output side end face of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 and the harmonics thereof are the first harmonics. Since the optical film 9 that transmits the second harmonic light (532 nm) is formed, the optical film 9 formed on the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 functions as an output mirror. Thus, by arranging the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 on the output side, the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 is exposed to the outside air through the very thin optical film 9, and the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 is exposed. Can be efficiently cooled by outside air. For this reason, an effect of suppressing the polarization rotation due to the temperature rise of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 is produced, and the problem that the output is unstable or the output is insufficient from the assumed output value can be reduced.
- the fundamental wave light is collected by the highly reflective optical film 6a of the concave mirror 6 and the convergent light is incident on the wavelength conversion element 7, so that the fundamental wave light in the wavelength conversion element 7 is converted into the harmonic light.
- the conversion efficiency can be improved and the optical film 9 on the output side is a flat mirror, so that the optical film 9 can be easily formed integrally with the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 and the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 and the optical film 9 can be easily adjusted, and the manufacturing cost of the apparatus can be reduced.
- FIG. 4 shows the temperature rise of the wave plate in a state where it acts as a laser resonator, with the present embodiment (black circle in the figure) and the wavelength conversion laser light source (white circle in the figure) shown in FIG. It is the figure plotted by comparison.
- the temperature rise amount of the wave plate 203 is 40 ° C. in the conventional example, whereas in this embodiment, the temperature rise of the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8 is increased. The amount is kept at 3-4 ° C.
- the effect obtained by reducing the amount of light absorbed by the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 and the effect obtained by cooling the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 by outside air are sufficiently obtained. I found out.
- FIG. 5 compares the relationship between the excitation light input and the green light output between the present embodiment (black circle in the figure) and the conventional wavelength conversion laser light source (small square in the figure) shown in FIG. FIG.
- the green light output is 700 mW with respect to the assumed output value of 850 mW (calculated value indicated by the broken line in the figure), and the assumed output value of 85 Only less than% could be output.
- the pumping light input is 4 W
- the green light output is 800 mW with respect to the assumed output value of 850 mW
- the output is about 95% of the expected output value.
- the instability of the output observed from the vicinity where the excitation light input exceeds 1.5 W was a fluctuation amount of 20% or more in the conventional example, but in this embodiment, it is greatly improved to 1% or less. We were able to.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a wavelength conversion laser light source according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. 6 includes an excitation light source 1, a collimating lens 3, a condenser lens 4, a solid laser medium 5, a concave mirror 6, a wavelength conversion element 7, a ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8, an optical film 9, and a cooling unit. 10a and 10b.
- the excitation light PL is generated from the excitation light source 1, converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 3, and then condensed by the condenser lens 4 onto the solid laser medium 5 disposed in the laser resonator 2 a.
- the laser resonator 2a includes a solid-state laser medium 5 and a wavelength conversion element 7.
- the material of the solid-state laser medium 5 is an optical ceramic material having a garnet structure such as Nd: YAG single crystal or Nd: YAG. Used.
- a material capable of forming a domain-inverted structure is used as the material of the wavelength conversion element 7.
- a material capable of forming a domain-inverted structure is used as the material of the wavelength conversion element 7.
- nonlinear optical materials in addition to MgO-added lithium niobate, MgO-added lithium tantalate, having a stoichiometric composition.
- Various materials such as MgO-added lithium niobate, MgO-added lithium tantalate having a stoichiometric composition, and potassium titanyl phosphate (commonly known as KTP, KTiOPO 4 ) can be used.
- the solid-state laser medium 5 that has received the condensed excitation light generates fundamental wave light and outputs the fundamental wave light to the wavelength conversion element 7.
- the wavelength conversion element 7 converts the fundamental light into a second harmonic having a higher frequency than the fundamental light.
- Nd YAG ceramic is used for the solid-state laser medium 5
- MgO LiNbO 3 crystal (MgO-added lithium niobate) having a periodically poled structure is used for the wavelength conversion element 7. Yes.
- the concave mirror 6 is arranged on the side close to the pumping light source 1 on which the pumping light PL is incident among the mirrors constituting the laser resonator 2a, and as an output mirror on the output side of the output light OL.
- a ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 on which a functioning optical film 9 is formed is disposed.
- the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 has a flat plate shape
- the optical film 9 formed on the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 also has a flat plate shape
- the concave mirror 6 On the end surface of the concave mirror 6 on the solid-state laser medium 5 side, light in the 1060 nm band (fundamental wave light) oscillated from the solid-state laser medium 5 and light in the 530 nm band (harmonic light) that is a harmonic (second harmonic) thereof. Is formed.
- the concave mirror 6 reflects light in the 1060 nm band by the highly reflective optical film 6 a and focuses it in the solid-state laser medium 5. Further, an optical film 9 that reflects light in the 1060 nm band oscillated from the solid-state laser medium 5 and transmits light in the 530 nm band, which is a harmonic thereof, is used as an output mirror on the output side end face of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8. Is formed.
- the gap between the end face of the concave mirror 6 (high reflection optical film 6a) and the end face of the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8 (optical film 9) is an optical laser resonator 2a. It
- the wavelength-converted light in the 530 nm band is output to the outside of the laser resonator 2a from the optical film 9 formed on the end face of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8, which finally becomes an output mirror.
- the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an optical film 9 serving as an output mirror is provided by providing a cooling unit 10a on the end face of the wavelength conversion element 7 side of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 provided on the output side.
- the cooling part 10b is provided on the top.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of an example of a wave plate with a cooling unit used in the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG.
- the wavelength plate with a cooling unit shown in FIG. 7 includes a ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8, an optical film 9, and cooling units 10a and 10b having circular openings 11 through which a laser beam (harmonic light) passes, and has a ⁇ / 4 wavelength.
- Cooling portions 10a and 10b are provided on the front and back surfaces of the plate 8 and the optical film 9, and the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 and the optical film 9 are sandwiched between the cooling portions 10a and 10b.
- the arrangement method of the cooling part is not particularly limited to the above example, and the cooling part is provided only on the surface of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 or only the back surface of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 (the surface of the optical film 9). In these cases, the cooling performance is inferior to that in the case where they are provided on the front and back surfaces, but the effect of cooling the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 can be obtained.
- a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the quartz material constituting the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 is provided in a portion other than the circular opening 11 through which the laser beam passes.
- a wave plate cooling section formed in a thin film shape and made of this thin film heat conductive material is formed as the cooling sections 10a and 10b.
- a metal film made of the following materials may be formed on the surfaces of the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8 and the optical film 9 to obtain a greater cooling effect.
- the thermal conductivity and the electrical resistivity of the metal are in an inversely proportional relationship, and the cooling performance varies depending on the resistance value. It was. Specifically, indium having an electrical resistivity of 8.75 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 ⁇ ⁇ cm (coated with a molten material), aluminum having an electrical resistivity of 2.74 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 ⁇ ⁇ cm (sputtered film), Gold (sputtered film) with electrical resistivity of 2.20 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 ⁇ ⁇ cm, copper with electrical resistivity of 1.70 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 ⁇ ⁇ cm (made in contact with the surface), manufactured by Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.
- Dorethite D-550 with an electrical resistivity of 8.0 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 5 ⁇ ⁇ cm, Tantalum (sputtered film) with an electrical resistivity of 13.1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 ⁇ ⁇ cm, 10.6 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 ⁇ -Cooling parts 10a and 10b were created using cm palladium (sputtered film), and the output reduction of green light from the wavelength conversion laser light source was measured.
- indium (In), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), and copper (Cu) whose electrical resistivity is 1.0 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 5 ⁇ ⁇ cm or less
- the output of green light is 5
- the output of green light is 5% or more with Doutite D-550, tantalum (Ta), and palladium (Pd) whose electrical resistivity exceeds 1.0 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 5 ⁇ ⁇ cm. Declined. From this result, the effect of suppressing the decrease in the output of green light was confirmed for indium (In), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), and copper (Cu), and the electrical resistivity was 1.0 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 5. It was found that by forming a metal film from a material of ⁇ ⁇ cm or less, output reduction can be suppressed as compared with the case where there is no metal film.
- a transparent conductive material may be used for the cooling units 10a and 10b.
- a diamond thin film or diamond-like carbon (DLC) is used as the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 and / or Alternatively, it may be formed on the surface of the optical film 9. Since the diamond thin film and the diamond-like carbon can transmit light, it is not necessary to provide the cooling portions 10a and 10b with circular openings through which the laser beam (harmonic light) passes, and cooling the portion through which the laser beam passes. Since efficiency can be improved, this is the most desirable mode.
- FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the green light output and the excitation light input when the excitation light having a wavelength of 808 nm is input up to 4 W, and the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. It is the figure plotted by comparison with (small square in a figure).
- the green light output was lower than the assumed output value (calculated value indicated by the broken line in the figure), but in this embodiment, an output according to the assumed output value is obtained. You can see well.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a wavelength conversion laser light source that is a first modification of the second embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 10 is a second modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a certain wavelength conversion laser light source.
- a laser beam (harmonic light) passes through the wave plate cooling mechanisms 12 and 13 described below. A circular opening is provided.
- a metallic wave plate cooling mechanism 12 is provided on the optical film 9 side of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 as a forced cooling mechanism of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 in the laser resonator 2b. It has been.
- the wave plate cooling mechanism 12 has a heat radiating fin 12a having a plurality of grooves formed on the upper surface of an inverted L-shaped main body.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. 9 can sufficiently cool the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 as compared with the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG.
- the cooling capacity of the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. As a result, in the wavelength conversion laser light source shown in FIG. 9, even when it is desired to obtain a green light output of 1 W or more, it was possible to improve the problem of insufficient output due to output instability and assumed output values.
- a metallic wave plate cooling mechanism 13 is used as the optical film 9 of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 as a forced cooling mechanism of the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 in the laser resonator 2b.
- a Peltier element 14 is provided on the upper surface of the inverted L-shaped main body, and a metal heat dissipating part 15 is provided on the upper surface of the Peltier element 14.
- the Peltier element 14 is driven by a drive circuit (not shown) and forcibly cools the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8.
- the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 can be forcibly cooled, it is possible to sufficiently improve the problem of output instability and insufficient output from the assumed output value.
- a green light output of 10 W or more was obtained using a YAG single crystal laser.
- the structure for cooling the wave plate described in the present embodiment may be formed in the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8 of the first embodiment.
- the stress or the amount of deflection changes depending on the temperature, and the output of the harmonic light fluctuates with respect to the temperature. Therefore, it is preferable to form a plurality of grooves on the surface (end surface facing the optical film 9 of the wave plate cooling mechanisms 12 and 13) that holds the ⁇ / 4 wavelength plate 8 of the forced cooling mechanism. In this case, unnecessary stress and bending of the ⁇ / 4 wave plate 8 can be released, and the surface area of the wave plate cooling mechanisms 12 and 13 that release heat can be increased to increase the cooling efficiency. The instability of output with respect to temperature change can be improved.
- the cooling efficiency may be increased by increasing the radiation rate of the surface of the forced cooling mechanism.
- the solid-state laser medium is not limited to a specific material, but is preferably composed of an isotropic material having an isotropic refractive index, such as ceramic. Since the problem of instability and reduction in the output of the converted laser light source occurs remarkably, the effect of each embodiment becomes more remarkable.
- a solid-state laser medium is a YAG (yttrium, aluminum, garnet) single crystal, or a garnet single crystal material such as YAG ceramic or a ceramic material.
- solid laser media made of ceramic materials there are those manufactured to have a depolarizing effect even with the same chemical composition.
- linearly polarized light passes through the solid-state laser medium and becomes random polarized light. Therefore, when a solid laser medium is formed from a ceramic material in which microcrystals having various crystal orientations are integrated, an effect of converting linearly polarized light into random polarized light can be generated.
- the above embodiments are particularly effective for a solid-state laser medium made from a ceramic material having such a depolarizing effect.
- FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a laser projector apparatus using the wavelength conversion laser light source according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention.
- a laser projector apparatus 1200 shown in FIG. 11 is a laser projector using a ferroelectric LCOS (Liquid crystal on silicon) as a two-dimensional modulation element, and the wavelength according to the first or second embodiment is used as a green laser light source 1201g.
- a conversion laser light source is used.
- the laser beams emitted from the blue laser light source 1201b, the red laser light source 1201r, and the green laser light source 1201g are collimated into parallel light by collimating lenses 1202r, 1202g, and 1202b.
- the mirrors 1203r, 1203g, and 1203b are dielectric multilayer mirrors having reflection characteristics in the red region (wavelength 600 nm or more), the blue region (wavelength 400 to 460 nm), and the green region (wavelength 520 to 560 nm), respectively.
- the collimating lenses 1202r, 1202g, 1202b and the mirrors 1203r, 1203g, 1203b are adjusted so that the beam paths of the blue laser light source 1201b, the red laser light source 1201r, and the green laser light source 1201g are coaxial.
- the scan mirror 1204 scans the beam in the direction of the drawing sheet, and the cylindrical lens 1205 shapes the beam into a linear bright line.
- a diffusion plate 1207 is disposed between the relay lens 1206 and the field lens 1208, and the beam shaped into a bright line by the cylindrical lens 1205 is further formed into a band shape.
- the polarization beam splitter 1209 functions as a prism, and the LCOS panel 1210 is a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device (LCOS).
- the prism since the LCOS panel 1210 is turned ON / OFF by rotating the polarization direction of the light, the prism needs to be a polarization beam splitter.
- the beam whose optical path is swung by the scan mirror 1204 is incident on the polarization beam splitter 1209 as S-polarized light. Since the reflective film in the polarization beam splitter 1209 is designed to reflect S-polarized light, the S-polarized light illuminates the LCOS panel 1210.
- the light reflected by the LCOS panel 1210 is projected onto the screen 1212 by the projection lens 1211.
- the controller 1213 includes an LCOS driving circuit 1214, an LD / galvano driving circuit 1215, and an LD current source 1216.
- the video signal VS is input to the LCOS driving circuit 1214, and the LCOS driving circuit 1214 generates a driving signal DS.
- the LD / galvano drive circuit 1215 generates a light emission trigger LT which is a drive waveform of the scan mirror and a light emission timing of the laser, using a V-SYNC signal Vsync which is one of signals from the LCOS drive circuit 1214 as a trigger.
- the light emission trigger LT is input to an LD current source 1216 that is a laser current source, and current is supplied to the blue laser light source 1201b, the red laser light source 1201r, and the green laser light source 1201g in accordance with the light emission trigger LT. By this series of operations, an image is displayed on the screen 1212.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source of Embodiment 1 or 2 is used as the green laser light source 1201g, it becomes possible to ensure long-term stability of the light source output in a wide temperature range, and a wide range of temperatures. A stable brightness can be maintained in a range.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a head-up display device using the wavelength conversion laser light source according to Embodiment 1 or 2 of the present invention.
- a head-up display device 1301 shown in FIG. 12 includes red, green, and blue laser light sources 1307R, 1307G, and 1307B, a two-dimensional modulation element 1308, a projection lens 1309, an intermediate screen 1310, a folding mirror 1312, and a controller that controls them.
- the unit 1313 is configured.
- the two-dimensional modulation element 1308 is composed of a small liquid crystal panel or a digital mirror device (DMD).
- the green laser light source 1307G the wavelength conversion laser light source according to the first and second embodiments is used.
- Laser beams emitted from the laser light sources 1307R, 1307G, and 1307B are combined and shaped by an optical system (not shown) to illuminate the two-dimensional modulation element 1308.
- the light from the two-dimensional modulation element 1308 is projected onto the screen 1310 by the projection lens 1309 and drawn.
- Image data to be displayed by the head-up display device 1301 is input from an external device (not shown) as an electrical signal from the input port IP, and the controller unit 1313 converts the image data into a drive signal for the two-dimensional modulation element 1308.
- the controller unit 1313 generates lighting timing signals for the laser light sources 1307R, 1307G, and 1307B, and supplies the necessary current to the laser light sources 1307R, 1307G, and 1307B, thereby lighting the laser light sources 1307R, 1307G, and 1307B.
- the light beam LB emitted from the head-up display device 1301 is reflected by the reflection mirror 1304 installed on the windshield 1305 and reaches the driver DR.
- the image appears to be displayed in the virtual image 1306 portion of the image formed by the light beam LB.
- an image is displayed on the windshield 1305.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source of Embodiment 1 or 2 is used as the green laser light source 1307G, it becomes possible to ensure long-term stability of the light source output in a wide temperature range. Stable brightness can be maintained over a wide temperature range.
- the wavelength conversion laser light source converts the fundamental light into a second harmonic light having a frequency higher than the frequency of the fundamental light, and a solid-state laser medium that receives the excitation light and generates the fundamental light.
- a laser resonator is constituted by the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, and the solid-state laser medium is disposed on the first reflecting surface side of the laser resonator.
- the wavelength plate is disposed on the second reflecting surface side of the laser resonator, the wavelength conversion element is disposed between the solid-state laser medium and the wavelength plate, and the wavelength plate has the wavelength Second converted by the conversion element The harmonics via the second reflecting surface for outputting to the outside of the laser resonator.
- a solid-state laser medium is disposed on the first reflecting surface side of the laser resonator, a wave plate is disposed on the second reflecting surface side of the laser resonator, and the solid-state laser medium, the wave plate, Since the second harmonic wave converted by the wavelength conversion element is output to the outside of the laser resonator through the second reflecting surface, the excitation light in the laser resonator is The wave plate can be disposed at the position farthest from the incident solid-state laser medium, and the temperature rise of the wave plate due to the excitation light can be suppressed.
- the light output after wavelength conversion which is a problem when generating light of 200 mW or more, becomes unstable, and an appropriate output cannot be obtained.
- the phenomenon can be suppressed with a simple configuration, and as a result, a small laser light source device that emits high-power laser light can be provided.
- the first reflecting surface formed on the concave mirror reflects the fundamental light and focuses it on the wavelength conversion element, and the second reflecting surface formed on the wavelength plate is a plane mirror. It is preferable.
- the fundamental wave light is collected by the first reflecting surface and the convergent light is incident on the wavelength conversion element, the conversion efficiency from the fundamental wave light to the harmonic light in the wavelength conversion element can be improved.
- the second reflecting surface is a plane mirror, the second reflecting surface can be easily formed integrally with the wave plate, and the position adjustment of the wave plate and the second reflecting surface is facilitated, and the manufacturing cost of the device is increased. Can be reduced.
- the second reflecting surface formed on the wave plate is exposed to the outside air.
- the wave plate is exposed to the outside air through the second reflecting surface, and the wave plate can be efficiently cooled by the outside air, so that the action of suppressing the polarization rotation due to the temperature rise of the wave plate occurs. It is possible to reduce the problem of output instability and insufficient output from the assumed output value.
- the wave plate can be efficiently cooled by the cooling unit, in the wavelength conversion laser light source in which the wave plate is inserted into the laser resonator, the problem of insufficient output due to instability of the output and the assumed output value is greatly increased. Can be improved.
- the cooling part is preferably made of a metal film having a resistivity of 1.0 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 5 ⁇ ⁇ cm or less.
- the thermal conductivity of the metal film is increased, and the wave plate can be cooled more efficiently. Therefore, the reduction of the green light output of the wavelength conversion laser light source in which the wave plate is inserted into the laser resonator is reduced by 5% The following can be reduced.
- the cooling unit is preferably composed of a diamond thin film or diamond-like carbon.
- the diamond thin film or diamond-like carbon is a transparent conductive material and can transmit light, there is no need to provide an opening for the second harmonic light or the like to pass therethrough.
- the cooling efficiency of the portion through which the light passes can be improved, and the wave plate can be further efficiently cooled.
- the solid laser medium is preferably made of an isotropic material having an isotropic refractive index.
- the solid laser medium is preferably made of a ceramic material having a depolarizing effect.
- the wavelength conversion element is preferably composed of any one of MgO-added lithium niobate, MgO-added lithium tantalate, and potassium titanyl phosphate, and has a stoichiometric composition of MgO-added lithium niobate or constant It is preferably composed of MgO-added lithium tantalate having a specific composition.
- the output of the wavelength conversion laser light source can be improved.
- An image display device includes any one of the wavelength conversion laser light sources described above, a laser light source that generates laser light, a modulation element that modulates the laser light to form an image, and the laser A light source and a controller for controlling the modulation element.
- a wavelength conversion laser light source that can stably output the second harmonic after wavelength conversion with high output is used. It is possible to ensure the long-term stability of the light source output over a wide temperature range, and it is possible to maintain a stable luminance over a wide temperature range.
- the present invention it is possible to provide a small wavelength conversion laser light source that prevents a decrease in output of green light and an output instability due to heat generation of the wave plate and emits a high output of an output value of 1000 mW or more.
- the present invention can be suitably used for a wavelength conversion laser device that converts fundamental light emitted from a laser medium into second harmonic light having a frequency higher than the frequency of the fundamental light.
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Abstract
Description
図1は、本発明の実施の形態1による波長変換レーザ光源の構成を示す模式図である。図1に示す波長変換レーザ光源は、励起光源1、コリメートレンズ3、集光レンズ4、固体レーザ媒質5、凹面ミラー6、波長変換素子7、λ/4波長板8及び光学膜9を備える。
次に、本発明の実施の形態2について説明する。図6は、本発明の実施の形態2による波長変換レーザ光源の構成を示す模式図である。図6に示す波長変換レーザ光源は、励起光源1、コリメートレンズ3、集光レンズ4、固体レーザ媒質5、凹面ミラー6、波長変換素子7、λ/4波長板8、光学膜9及び冷却部10a、10bを備える。
次に、本発明の実施の形態3について説明する。本実施形態は、実施の形態1又は2による波長変換レーザ光源を応用した第1の画像表示装置である。図11は、本発明の実施の形態1又は2による波長変換レーザ光源を用いたレーザプロジェクター装置の構成を示す概略図である。
次に、本発明の実施の形態4について説明する。本実施形態は、実施の形態1又は2による波長変換レーザ光源を応用した第2の画像表示装置である。図12は、本発明の実施の形態1又は2による波長変換レーザ光源を用いたヘッドアップディスプレイ装置の構成を示す概略図である。
Claims (10)
- 励起光を入射され、基本波光を発生する固体レーザ媒質と、
前記基本波光を前記基本波光の周波数よりも高い周波数を有する第2高調波光へ変換する波長変換素子と、
前記基本波光及び前記第2高調波光を反射する第1の反射面が形成された凹面ミラーと、
前記基本波光を反射し、前記第2高調波光を透過する第2の反射面が形成された波長板とを備え、
前記第1の反射面と前記第2の反射面とからレーザ共振器が構成され、
前記レーザ共振器の前記第1の反射面側に前記固体レーザ媒質が配置され、前記レーザ共振器の前記第2の反射面側に前記波長板が配置され、前記固体レーザ媒質と前記波長板との間に前記波長変換素子が配置され、
前記波長板は、前記波長変換素子により変換された第2高調波を前記第2の反射面を介して前記レーザ共振器の外部へ出力することを特徴とする波長変換レーザ光源。 - 前記凹面ミラーに形成された前記第1の反射面は、前記基本波光を反射して前記波長変換素子に集光させ、
前記波長板に形成された前記第2の反射面は、平面ミラーであることを特徴とする請求項1に記載の波長変換レーザ光源。 - 前記波長板に形成された前記第2の反射面は、外気に曝されていることを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 前記波長板を冷却する冷却部をさらに備えることを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 前記冷却部は、抵抗率が1.0×10-5Ω・cm以下である金属膜からなることを特徴とする請求項4に記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 前記冷却部は、ダイヤモンド薄膜又はダイヤモンドライクカーボンから構成されることを特徴とする請求項4に記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 前記固体レーザ媒質は、屈折率が等方性を有する等方性材料から構成されることを特徴とする請求項1~6のいずれかに記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 前記固体レーザ媒質は、偏光解消効果を有するセラミック材料から構成されることを特徴とする請求項1~6のいずれかに記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 前記波長変換素子は、MgO添加ニオブ酸リチウム、MgO添加タンタル酸リチウム、及びリン酸チタニルカリウムのうちいずれか一種から構成されることを特徴とする請求項1~8に記載の波長変換レーザ光源。
- 請求項1~9のいずれかに記載された波長変換レーザ光源を含み、レーザ光を発生するレーザ光源と、
前記レーザ光を変調して画像を形成する変調素子と、
前記レーザ光源及び前記変調素子を制御するコントローラとを備えることを特徴とする画像表示装置。
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JP2015087421A (ja) * | 2013-10-28 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社Jvcケンウッド | 透過型スクリーン及びそれを用いた画像表示装置 |
EP2924819A4 (en) * | 2012-11-26 | 2016-08-24 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | LASER UNIT |
JP7438057B2 (ja) | 2020-08-13 | 2024-02-26 | 株式会社ディスコ | 固体レーザ発振器 |
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- 2012-02-28 WO PCT/JP2012/001355 patent/WO2012124266A1/ja active Application Filing
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Cited By (4)
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EP2924819A4 (en) * | 2012-11-26 | 2016-08-24 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | LASER UNIT |
JP2015087421A (ja) * | 2013-10-28 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社Jvcケンウッド | 透過型スクリーン及びそれを用いた画像表示装置 |
WO2015063971A1 (ja) * | 2013-10-28 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社Jvcケンウッド | 透過型スクリーン及びそれを用いた画像表示装置 |
JP7438057B2 (ja) | 2020-08-13 | 2024-02-26 | 株式会社ディスコ | 固体レーザ発振器 |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JPWO2012124266A1 (ja) | 2014-07-17 |
US20130335813A1 (en) | 2013-12-19 |
US9172201B2 (en) | 2015-10-27 |
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