Pulse laser resonator
AssigneePowerlase Limited
InventorsJason Palmer, David Klug, Ian Mercer, Daniel Allwood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser is disclosed which includes a gain medium, a switch element, and a pulse controller. In one embodiment laser light of differing polarizations pass along respective paths and a pulsed laser output is generated via an electro-optical element. In another embodiment light of differing polarizations passes in differing directions through a cyclical path. The invention can make use of a prism-shaped polarizer having a polarization selection face and two further faces. Yet further initial pulses can be controlled to reduce energy, for example by progressively increasing the period or amplitude of successive pulses. As a result an efficient and high power laser apparatus is realized.
Claims27
A laser cavity for generating a pulsed laser output, comprising:
- a gain medium including a light transmission axis;
- at least one first optical element disposed on one side of the gain medium to return laser light emitted from the one side of the gain medium back through the gain medium;
- a polarization selective element disposed on the light transmission axis to the other side of the gain medium;
- at least one second optical element arranged to define a first optical path from the polarization selective element along which laser light of one polarization is in use directed;
- at least one third optical element arranged to define a second optical path from the polarization selective element along which laser light of other polarization is in use directed;
- and
- at least one electro-optical element disposed in one of the first and second optical paths and being operable to switch the polarity of the laser light transmitted therethrough such as to generate a pulsed laser output;
- wherein the at least one first optical element comprises a reflective element;
- wherein the polarization selective element comprises a polarizer;
- wherein the polarizer includes a first optical surface which includes a dielectric film coating and is in optical communication with the other side of the gain medium and the at least one third optical element, a second optical surface which is in optical communication with the at least one second optical element, and a third optical surface which is the surface through which laser output pulses are in use dumped;
- and
- wherein the second and third optical surfaces of the polarizer are arranged such that the laser light transmitted therethrough is not more than ten degrees from a direction normal to the respective optical surface.
A polarizer including a first polarization separating optical surface and second and third optical surfaces through which laser light is in use transmitted, wherein the second and third optical surfaces are arranged such that the laser light transmitted therethrough is not more than ten degrees from a direction normal to the respective optical surface.
A laser cavity for generating a pulsed laser output, comprising:
- a gain medium including a light transmission axis;
- a first reflective element disposed on one side of the gain medium to return laser light emitted from the one side of the gain medium back through the gain medium;
- a polarizer disposed in the light transmission axis on the other side of the gain medium, the polarizer having first, second, and third optical surfaces, the first optical surface including a dielectric film coating and being in optical communication with the other side of the gain medium, the third optical surface being the surface through which laser output pulses are dumped;
- a second reflective element arranged to define a first optical path from the polarizer along which laser light of one polarization is directed, the second optical surface being in optical communication with the second reflective element;
- a third reflective element arranged to define a second optical path from the polarizer along which laser light of another polarization is directed, the first optical surface also being in optical communication with the third reflective element;
- and
- at least one electro-optical element disposed in one of the first and second optical paths and being operable to switch the polarity of the laser light transmitted therethrough to generate a pulsed laser output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.