Highly efficient, resonant Raman molecular iodine laser.

A highly efficient 1.3-microm molecular iodine Raman laser is demonstrated. Multiwavelength output powers of 600 mW and photon-conversion efficiencies of 78% are demonstrated for a 532-nm pump source. Single-wavelength output powers of 480 mW and photon-conversion efficiencies of 67% are also realized. A simple thermal lensing model is used to optimize the pump and Stokes mode sizes.