Whats the IR diode in the dvd burner sleds?

[keeperx]

Im just wondering what wavelength/power it is, I have like 6 of em (or more) sitting around.. are they good for anything?

[daedal]

Im just wondering what wavelength/power it is, I have like 6 of em (or more) sitting around.. are they good for anything?

780nm... haven't tested them to destruction, but should be in the neighborhood of ~150mW...

--DDL

[Frixxion]

Where can you use an IR-Diode for? Not for a projector right? Or just for the fun of cutting through stuff ?

[thesk8nmidget]

exactly.. or depending on certain ir wavelengths you use them with cetain crystals to make other colors. you can make green using an 808nm diode

[stanwax]

You cant use them for making different wavelengths unless you find a medium that will lase when pumped with 780nm.
DPSS use YAG or Vanadate which absorbs best at 808nm - thats the only reason its that wavelength. The resulting infra red lasing action is frequency doubled to make the visible wavelength we see. 1064nm for 532nm green, 946nm for 473nm blue or 1342nm for 671nm red. There are some others that work but the main ones are listed and they all pump at 808nm.

Rob

[keeperx]

so if you frequency doubled the output you would get 390 which is UV correct?

[Laser Ben]

You wouldn't get any output with that diode

[keeperx]

so its basicaly ik for burning stuff an otherwise its trash...

ok.. just wondered...

[stanwax]

A single diode output can be frequency doubled but it would be tricky and yeild so little output that its not worth doing. There is a vey good reason manufacturers go to such lengths to make the DPSS lasers we buy. If it did work we would have almost any colour we liked of diode doubled lasers!

Rob

[keeperx]

so if i started with a broken cheap green laser i could swap out the crystal and the IR diode and make it blue?