Pulse-generating laser
AssigneeGigatera Inc.
InventorsGabriel J. Spuehler, Lukas Krainer, Kurt Weingarten, Rudiger Paschotta, Ursula Keller
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Abstract
An optically pumped laser with an Er:Yb: doped solid state gain element is disclosed, which is passively mode-locked by means of a saturable absorber mirror. The laser is designed to operate at a fundamental repetition rate exceeding 1 GHz and preferably at an effective wavelength between 1525 nm and 1570 nm. Compared to state of the art solid state pulsed lasers, the threshold for Q-switched-mode-locked operation is substantially improved. Thus, according to one embodiment, the laser achieves a repetition rate beyond 40 GHz. The laser preferably comprises means for wavelength tuning and repetition rate locking.
Claims46
A laser for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the fundamental repetition rate of the emitted pulses exceeding 1 GHz, said laser comprising:
- an optical resonator;
- an Er:Yb:doped solid-state gain element placed inside said optical resonator;
- optical pumping means for exciting said laser gain element to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength;
- and
- means for passive modelocking comprising a saturable absorber.
A laser for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the fundamental repetition rate of the emitted pulses exceeding 1 GHz, said laser comprising:
- an optical resonator;
- an solid state gain element placed inside said optical resonator;
- means for exciting said laser gain element to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength, said means comprising a single mode diode pump laser with an output power of 0.1W or more or of 0.2 W or more;
- and
- means for passive modelocking comprising a saturable absorber.
A laser for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the fundamental repetition rate of the emitted pulses exceeding 1 GHz, said laser comprising:
- an optical resonator;
- an solid state gain element placed inside said optical resonator;
- means for exciting said laser gain element to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength, and
- means for passive modelocking comprising saturable absorber mirror with GaAs/AlAs mirrors and a less than or equal to 10 nm thick absorber layer comprising InxGa1−xAs with 0.48<x<0.58, preferably 0.5<x<0.58.
A laser for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the fundamental repetition rate of the emitted pulses exceeding 1 GHz, said laser comprising:
- an optical resonator;
- an Er:Yb:doped solid-state gain element placed inside said optical resonator;
- means for exciting said laser gain element to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength;
- and
- means for passive modelocking comprising a saturable absorber,
- wherein the optical resonator is designed such that the circulating radiation is focused in a manner that the spatial mode radius in the gain element is below 80 μm and on the semiconductor saturable absorber below 50 μm.
A laser for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the fundamental repetition rate of the emitted pulses exceeding 1 GHz, said laser comprising:
- an Er:Yb:doped solid-state gain element being formed as to guide electromagnetic radiation characterized by said effective wavelength and at least partially forming an optical resonator for said electromagnetic radiation pulses,
- optical pumping means for exciting said laser gain element to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength;
- and
- means for passive modelocking comprising a saturable absorber.
A method for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the pulses being emitted with a fundamental repetition rate exceeding 1 GHz, comprising the steps of:
- exciting an Er:Yb:doped solid-state laser gain element to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength,
- said laser gain element being placed inside an optical resonator;
- recirculating said electromagnetic radiation in said optical resonator;
- and
- passively modelocking said electromagnetic radiation using a saturable absorber.
A method for emitting a continuous-wave train of electromagnetic-radiation pulses characterized by an effective wavelength, the pulses being emitted with a fundamental repetition rate exceeding 1 GHz, comprising the steps of:
- Focusing an optical pumping beam on a solid state laser gain element for exciting it to emit electromagnetic radiation characterized by the effective wavelength,
- said laser gain element being placed inside an optical resonator;
- recirculating said electromagnetic radiation in said optical resonator,
- passively modelocking said electromagnetic radiation using a saturable absorber, and
- focusing said electromagnetic radiation such that the spatial mode radius in the gain element is below 80 μm and on the semiconductor saturable absorber below 50 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.