Highly-efficient solid-state blue laser

A solid-state blue laser, comprising:

• a solid-state laser medium of neodymium-doped scandium oxide (Nd:Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3), the laser medium being pumped to produce a beam of coherent infrared radiation at a wavelength of approximately 1367 nanometers;
• and
• optical means for tripling the frequency of the beam of coherent infrared radiation to form a beam of coherent blue light at a wavelength of approximately 455.6 nanometers.

A solid-state laser medium, comprising:

• a scandium oxide (Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3) host material doped with trivalent neodymium ions (Nd.sup.3+), wherein the host material is doped with neodymium ions to a concentration of between approximately 0.25% and 4%.

A method for generating coherent blue light, comprising the steps of:

• pumping a solid-state laser medium of neodymium-doped scandium oxide (Nd:Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3) with optical radiation to excite a beam of coherent infrared radiation at a wavelength of approximately 1367 nanometers;
• and
• tripling the frequency of the beam of coherent infrared radiation to form a beam of coherent blue light at a wavelength of approximately 455.6 nanometers.