Frequency doubling of low power images using a self-imaging cavity

A self-imaging resonator can be simultaneously resonant for many transverse modes and therefore allows cavity build-up for images of various shapes. The stability properties of such a cavity are reviewed. We have used this device for the first time to enhance the efficiency of second harmonic generation of weak images. We characterize the global and local efficiency of the second harmonic generation, and discuss its limitation due to the spatial bandwidth of the cavity and the diffraction along the crystal length.