Birefringent prism for wavelength separation
AssigneeCoherent LaserSystems GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsWolf Seelert, Rüdiger Von Elm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical ring-resonator converts visible wavelength radiation to ultraviolet wavelength radiation by frequency-doubling the visible wavelength radiation in an optically nonlinear crystal. The resonator includes an uncoated birefringent out-coupling prism. The visible wavelength radiation passes through faces of the prism at a Brewster-angle. Ultraviolet wavelength radiation enters the prism, is totally internally reflected, directed out of the prism at a Brewster-angle, and exits the ring-resonator as output radiation.
Claims20
Optical apparatus for converting radiation having a fundamental wavelength to radiation having a second-harmonic wavelength, comprising:
- an optical resonator in which the fundamental radiation circulates;
- an optically nonlinear crystal located in the optical resonator and arranged to convert circulating fundamental radiation to second-harmonic radiation, the fundamental radiation and second-harmonic radiation having mutually-orthogonal linear polarizations;
- an uncoated birefringent prism located in the optical resonator and arranged to receive the fundamental radiation and second-harmonic radiation propagating coaxially from the optically nonlinear crystal, the fundamental radiation and second-harmonic radiation incident on a first face of the prism at about an external Brewster angle for the fundamental radiation, the fundamental radiation transmitted through the prism and incident on a second face of the prism at about an internal Brewster angle for the fundamental radiation, the fundamental radiation exiting the prism through the second face;
- wherein the prism is further arranged such that a portion of the second-harmonic radiation enters the prism through the first face thereof, is totally internally reflected by the second face thereof, is incident on a third face thereof at about an internal Brewster angle for the second-harmonic radiation, and exits the prism through the third face;
- and
- wherein the fundamental radiation is an extraordinary beam within the prism and the second-harmonic radiation is an ordinary beam within the prism.
Optical apparatus for generating radiation having a second-harmonic wavelength, comprising:
- a source generating radiation having a fundamental wavelength;
- a unidirectional ring-resonator arranged to receive the fundamental radiation and cause the fundamental radiation to circulate therein;
- an optically nonlinear crystal located in the optical resonator and arranged to convert circulating fundamental radiation to second-harmonic radiation, the fundamental radiation and second-harmonic radiation having mutually-orthogonal linear polarizations;
- an uncoated birefringent prism located in the optical resonator and arranged to receive the fundamental radiation and second-harmonic radiation propagating coaxially from the optically nonlinear crystal, the fundamental radiation and second-harmonic radiation incident on a first face of the prism at about an external Brewster angle for the fundamental radiation, the fundamental radiation transmitted through the prism and incident on a second face of the prism at about an internal Brewster angle for the fundamental radiation, the fundamental radiation exiting the prism through the second face;
- wherein the prism is further arranged such that a portion of the second-harmonic radiation enters the prism through the first face thereof, is totally internally reflected by the second face thereof, is incident on a third face thereof at about an internal Brewster angle for the second-harmonic radiation, and exits the prism through the third face;
- and
- wherein the fundamental radiation is an extraordinary beam within the prism and the second-harmonic radiation is an ordinary beam within the prism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.