Laser with spectral converter
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsKalin Spariosu, Alexander Betin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser with a spectral converter. The novel laser includes a spectral converter adapted to absorb electromagnetic energy in a first frequency band and re-emit energy in a second frequency band, and a laser gain medium adapted to absorb the re-emitted energy and output laser energy. The spectral converter includes a plurality of quantum dots having an emission spectrum matching an absorption spectrum of the gain medium. In an illustrative embodiment, the spectral converter is adapted to convert broadband energy to narrowband energy, and the gain medium is a REI-doped solid-state laser gain medium.
Claims25
A laser comprising:
- a spectral converter adapted to absorb electromagnetic energy in a first frequency band and re-emit energy in a second frequency band and
- a laser gain medium adapted to absorb said re-emitted energy and output laser energy.
A laser comprising:
- first means for converting broadband energy to narrowband energy using quantum dots and
- second means for absorbing said narrowband energy and generating laser output.
A laser comprising:
- a broadband pump source adapted to radiate broadband energy;
- a quantum dot activated material adapted to absorb said broadband energy and re-emit narrowband energy;
- and
- a laser gain medium adapted to absorb said re-emitted energy and output laser energy.
A sun-pumped laser comprising:
- a quantum dot activated material adapted to absorb solar energy and re-emit narrowband energy and
- a laser gain medium adapted to absorb said re-emitted energy and output laser energy.
A spectral converter comprising:
- a host material and
- a plurality of quantum dots dispersed throughout said host material and adapted to absorb electromagnetic energy in a first frequency band and re-emit energy in a second frequency band.
A spectral converter for use in a laser system having a pump source and a gain medium, said spectral converter comprising:
- a host material and
- a plurality of quantum dots dispersed throughout said host material and adapted to absorb energy emitted from said pump source and convert said energy to a frequency band spectrally matched to an absorption band or bands of said gain medium.
A method for generating laser energy including the steps of:
- converting broadband energy to narrowband energy using quantum dots and
- absorbing said narrowband energy in a laser gain medium to generate laser output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.