Efficient cw violet-light generation in a ring cavity with a periodically poled KTP

In this work, we experimentally demonstrate an efficient cw second harmonic generation (SHG) at 780 nm wavelength with a first-order type-I phase matching periodically poled KTP (PPKTP) crystal in a ring cavity, the wavelength corresponds to the D ₂ line of Rb atom transition. The fundamental laser used is a grating-stabilized external cavity diode laser and its frequency is precisely locked to Rb atom transition frequency using the saturated absorption technique. About maximal 6.9 mW UV radiation of 390 nm with a net conversion of 9.5% at an input mode-matched power of 73 mW is generated with one crystal, and about maximal 8.8 mW with the net conversion of 12% is obtained with another crystal; the powers in stable operation are about 1.7 mW and 3.4 mW, respectively. This is, to our best knowledge, the first SHG experiment at 780 nm wavelength with the PPKTP in a ring cavity.