Optical pulse generation device and optical pulse generation method

4:

• The optical pulse generation device according to claim 1,
• wherein the waveform controller includes:
• an optical path switch having at least one input port and at least two output ports;
• and
• a waveform control device configured to control the time waveform of the laser light to convert the laser light into the optical pulse train,
• the optical resonator includes:
• a first optical path having one end optically coupled to the one input port of the optical path switch;
• a second optical path having one end optically coupled to one of the output ports of the optical path switch and another end optically coupled to another end of the first optical path;
• and
• a third optical path having one end optically coupled to another one of the output ports of the optical path switch and another end optically coupled to another end of the first optical path,
• the optical amplification medium is arranged on the first optical path,
• the waveform control device is arranged on the third optical path, and
• the optical path switch selects the third optical path in the predetermined period and selects the second optical path in another period.

5:

• The optical pulse generation device according to claim 4, further comprising:
• a photodetector optically coupled to the optical resonator and configured to detect light output from the optical resonator to generate an electrical detection signal;
• and
• a switch controller configured to control the optical path switch,
• wherein the switch controller determines a timing for selecting the third optical path based on the detection signal from the photodetector.

6:

• The optical pulse generation device according to claim 1,
• wherein the waveform controller includes:
• a polarization switch arranged in the optical resonator and configured to control a polarization plane of the laser light;
• and
• a waveform control device configured to control the time waveform of the laser light to convert the laser light into the optical pulse train when the laser light has a first polarization plane, the waveform control device being configured not to control the time waveform of the laser light when the laser light has a second polarization plane different from the first polarization plane, and
• the polarization switch sets the polarization plane of the laser light to the first polarization plane in the predetermined period and sets the polarization plane of the laser light to the second polarization plane in another period.

7:

• The optical pulse generation device according to claim 6, further comprising:
• a photodetector optically coupled to the optical resonator and configured to detect light output from the optical resonator to generate an electrical detection signal;
• and
• a switch controller configured to control the polarization switch,
• wherein the switch controller determines a timing for setting the polarization plane of the laser light to the first polarization plane based on the detection signal from the photodetector.

8:

• The optical pulse generation device according to claim 1,
• wherein the optical resonator generates the laser light as a single pulse before the predetermined period, and
• the waveform controller includes:
• a spectral element for spectral diffraction of the laser light;
• a spatial light modulator configured to modulate at least one of an intensity spectrum and a phase spectrum of the laser light after spectral diffraction in order to convert the laser light into the optical pulse train, the spatial light modulator outputting modulated light;
• and
• an optical system configured to condense the modulated light and output the optical pulse train.

15:

• An optical pulse generation method, comprising:
• performing a laser light generation of generating and amplifying laser light in an optical resonator of mode-locked type by applying excitation light to an optical amplification medium in the optical resonator;
• performing a waveform control of controlling a time waveform of the laser light in the optical resonator within a predetermined period to convert the laser light into an optical pulse train including two or more optical pulses within a period of the optical resonator;
• and
• performing an output of amplifying the optical pulse train in the optical resonator after the predetermined period and outputting the optical pulse train having amplified to an outside of the optical resonator as the laser light.