Monolithic Mode-Locked Laser
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
InventorThomas R Schibli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A monolithic laser cavity (100, 200, 300, 400) for generating an output series of pulses (37) based on an input pump signal 36. This is achieved by a novel cavity design that utilizes a transparent, low-loss, and near zero-dispersion spacer (38) to form an optical resonator without the use of wave-guiding effects. The pulse forming material (32), optical elements (10-16, 30, 31, 33), and the laser gain medium (34) are in direct contact with the spacer and/or each other without any free-space sections between them. Therefore, the light inside the laser cavity never travels through free space.
Claims20
A monolithic laser cavity for generating an output series of pulses with an input pump signal comprising:
- a spacer formed of a solid material which is optically transparent at desired frequencies;
- a solid laser gain medium affixed to the spacer with no gas or vacuum gap between the spacer and the gain medium;
- a solid pulse forming material affixed to the spacer with no gas or vacuum gap between the spacer and the pulse forming medium;
- and
- optics for confining a laser beam at the desired frequencies within the cavity substantially without waveguiding.
The method of generating an output series of pulses with an input pump signal comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming an integral laser cavity including—
- a spacer formed of a solid material which is optically transparent at desired frequencies,
- a solid laser gain medium affixed to the spacer with no gas or vacuum gap between the spacer and the gain medium,
- a solid pulse forming material affixed to the spacer with no gas or vacuum gap between the spacer and the pulse forming medium, and
- optics for confining a laser beam at the desired frequencies within the cavity substantially without waveguiding;
- and
- (b) powering the laser cavity with a pump beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.