Diffraction grating
OwnerJoachim Schulzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A diffraction grating for generating radially polarized laser radiation within a laser resonator is designed as a periodic or quasi-periodic, concentric or spiral grating with a grating period larger than the laser wavelength. The grating period and shape are selected in such a manner that the TM reflectance of the diffraction grating in a diffraction order corresponding to the laser wavelength is larger than the TE reflectivity of the diffraction grating in that diffraction order.
Claims20
A diffraction grating arranged to generate radially polarized laser radiation within a laser resonator,
- wherein the diffraction grating is a grating which is either periodic or quasi-periodic and either concentric or spiral and which has a grating period larger than the wavelength of the laser radiation;
- and
- wherein the grating is of a period and shape selected in such a manner that the TM reflectance of the diffraction grating in a diffraction order corresponding to the laser wavelength is larger than the TE reflectivity of the diffraction grating in said diffraction order.
A laser resonator comprising
- a housing defining an interior cavity;
- and
- a diffraction grating arranged as one of the group consisting of a fully or partially reflective rear mirror of the resonator, a partially reflective decoupling mirror of the resonator, and a transmissive element within the resonator;
- wherein the diffraction grating is a grating which is either periodic or quasi-periodic and either concentric or spiral and which has a grating period larger than the wavelength of the laser radiation;
- and
- wherein the grating is of a period and shape selected in such a manner that the TM reflectance of the diffraction grating in a diffraction order corresponding to the laser wavelength is larger than the TE reflectivity of the diffraction grating in said diffraction order.
A method of diffracting light within a laser generator, the method comprising
- reflecting light within a cavity of a laser resonator;
- and
- passing at least a part of the light through a diffraction grating, wherein the diffraction grating is either periodic or quasi-periodic and either concentric or spiral and has a grating period larger than the wavelength of the laser radiation, in a manner such that the TM reflectance of the diffraction grating in a diffraction order corresponding to the laser wavelength is larger than the TE reflectivity of the diffraction grating in said diffraction order.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.