Yellow and Orange Lasers
Definition: lasers emitting yellow or orange light
More general term: visible lasers
German: gelbe und orange Laser
Category: 
laser devices and laser physics
Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
Cite the article using its DOI: https://doi.org/10.61835/9l3
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This article discusses laser sources emitting in the yellow to orange spectral region, i.e. with a wavelength roughly around 570–625 nm. This spectral region is relatively difficult to access, at least when high output power, beam quality and power efficiency are required. Nevertheless, various types of yellow and orange laser sources exist:
- InGaP-based laser diodes may emit orange light e.g. around 610 nm [1]. The shorter the wavelength, the more difficult it is to obtain a good power efficiency and long lifetime.
- Praseodymium/ytterbium-doped upconversion lasers, e.g. based on fluoride fibers, can emit orange light with wavelengths around 605 nm [2].
- Dye lasers can cover the whole yellow–orange spectral region.
- Helium–neon lasers can utilize an orange laser transitions at 612 nm and 594.1 nm.
- Copper vapor lasers can emit pulses of yellow light at 578 nm [5].
- There are various types of frequency-doubled lasers, where the actual laser emits in the 1.1–1.2-μm spectral region and a frequency doubler converts this radiation into orange or yellow light. For example, a Cr4+:MgSiO4 (forsterite) laser can cover this spectral range [3]. There are also optically pumped semiconductor lasers (VECSELs) based on GaInNAs or InGaAs quantum wells, which can generate orange or yellow light via intracavity frequency doubling [7, 8].
- Some yellow or orange laser sources are based on sum frequency generation. For example, mixing the outputs of two Nd:YVO4 lasers emitting at 1064 nm and 1342 nm, respectively, results in orange light with 593.5 nm. There are even laser pointers containing such a source, but these are fairly expensive.
- Optical parametric oscillators may emit orange or yellow light, when pumped with a blue laser.
- There are Raman lasers, often based on Raman-active bulk crystals (e.g. tungstate crystals), which can either generate orange or yellow light from green pump light [4], or generate light with wavelengths around 1.1–1.2 μm with a 1-μm pump source [6], so that subsequent frequency doubling or sum frequency generation leads to orange or yellow light.
Orange and yellow laser sources are applied e.g. for laser guide stars (sodium laser beacons) and in medical laser therapies (e.g. photocoagulation in ophthalmology). Orange or even yellow laser pointers are not common.
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Bibliography
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Questions and Comments from Users
2023-12-19
It looks like 561nm laser pointers have become available in the last year. I assume that they use laser diodes. However, searches for 561 nm laser diodes didn't yield any results.
The author's answer:
Indeed, 561-nm diode lasers seem not to be possible so far. There are two other approaches:
- There are diode-pumped solid-state Nd:YAG lasers operating at 1123 nm (a somewhat difficult transition) with subsequent frequency doubling to 561 nm.
- There are 1123-nm laser diodes. Simply using such a diode and adding a frequency doubler for converting the light to 561 nm would not be efficient, but there are AR-coated diodes for realizing external cavity lasers where a frequency doubler can be incorporated.
In both cases, this is sophisticated technology, which consistent with the relatively high prices.
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2020-03-15
I saw a yellow beam of light as large as a soccer ball coming from a window from the house across the street where I live. What could be happening there?
The author's answer:
There are orange and yellow laser pointers, although they are not common. So I guess someone played around with such a device. Maybe the beam looked large due to the glare.