US 2026/0180284 A1 · OPTICALLY PUMPED MICROCHIP LASER AND A METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTROMAGNETIC LASER RADIATION

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optically pumped microchip laser comprising: a pump lens; a gain element, wherein the gain element comprises a first end facet and a second end facet, wherein the gain element comprises a gain section, and wherein the gain section during operation of the microchip laser generates electromagnetic laser radiation; an output coupling reflective structure on the first end facet, wherein the output coupling reflective structure has a first reflectivity for the laser radiation; and a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror at the second end facet, wherein the semiconductor saturable absorber mirror comprises a saturable absorber section and a mirror section, and wherein the mirror section has a second reflectivity for the laser radiation, wherein the second reflectivity is larger than the first reflectivity; wherein the pump lens is arranged and positioned such that during operation of the microchip laser electromagnetic pump radiation is focused by the pump lens through the output coupling reflective structure into the gain element. According to the present invention the pump lens is a cylindrical Gradient Index lens comprising a cylinder axis, a first end surface and a second end surface, wherein the Gradient Index lens is arranged and positioned such that during operation of the microchip laser the pump radiation exits the Gradient Index lens through the second end surface, wherein the second end surface forms an angle with the cylinder axis different from 90 degrees, and wherein the gain element and the Gradient Index lens are positioned relative to each other such that the laser radiation exiting the gain element through the output coupling reflective structure is reflected at the second end surface such that the laser radiation bypasses the gain element.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An optically pumped microchip laser (1) comprising

a pump lens,
a gain element (6),
wherein the gain element (6) comprises a first end facet (13) and a second end facet (14),
wherein the gain element (6) comprises a gain section (9), and
wherein the gain section (9) during operation of the microchip laser (1) generates electromagnetic laser radiation (11),
an output coupling reflective structure (5) on the first end facet (13),
wherein the output coupling reflective structure (5) has a first reflectivity for the laser radiation (11), and
a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (7) at the second end facet (14),
wherein the semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (7) comprises a saturable absorber section (15) and a mirror section (16), and
wherein the mirror section (16) has a second reflectivity for the laser radiation (11), wherein the second reflectivity is larger than the first reflectivity,
wherein the pump lens is arranged and positioned such that during operation of the microchip laser (1) electromagnetic pump radiation (12) is focused by the pump lens through the output coupling reflective structure (5) into the gain element (6),
characterized in that
the pump lens is a cylindrical Gradient Index lens (3) comprising a cylinder axis (20), a first end surface (17) and a second end surface (18),
wherein the Gradient Index lens (3) is arranged and positioned such that during operation of the microchip laser (1) the pump radiation (12) exits the Gradient Index lens (3) through the second end surface (18),
wherein the second end surface (18) forms an angle (α) with the cylinder axis (20) different from 90 degrees, and
wherein the gain element (6) and the Gradient Index lens (3) are positioned relative to each other such that the laser radiation (11) exiting the gain element (6) through the output coupling reflective structure (5) is reflected at the second end surface (18) such that the laser radiation (11) bypasses the gain element (6).

13 more elements

A method for generating electromagnetic laser radiation (11) in an optically pumped microchip laser, comprising the following steps

providing a pump laser (2), a pump lens (3), an output coupling reflective structure (5), and a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (7),
wherein the gain element (6) comprises a first end facet (13) and a second end facet (14),
wherein the gain element (6) comprises a gain section (9),
wherein the output coupling reflective structure (5) is provided on the first end facet (13),
wherein the output coupling reflective structure (5) has a first reflectivity for the laser radiation (11),
wherein the semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (7) is provided at the second end facet (14),
wherein the semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (7) comprises a saturable absorber section (15) and a mirror section (16), and
wherein the mirror section (16) has a second reflectivity for the laser radiation (11), wherein the second reflectivity is larger than the first reflectivity;
generating and emitting electromagnetic pump radiation (12) by the pump laser (2);
focusing the pump radiation (12) by the pump lens through the output coupling reflective structure (5) into the gain element (6);
and
generating the laser radiation (11) in the gain section (9);
characterized in that
the pump lens is a cylindrical GRIN lens (3) comprising a cylinder axis (20), a first end surface (17) and a second end surface (18), wherein in a direction of propagation from the pump laser (2) to the gain element (6), the pump radiation exits the GRIN lens (3) through the second end surface (18), and wherein the second end surface (18) forms an angle (α) with the cylinder axis (20) different from 90 degrees;
and
the method further comprises the step of
reflecting the laser radiation (11) exiting the gain element (6) through the output coupling reflective structure (5) at the second end surface (18) such that the laser radiation (11) bypasses the gain element (6).

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optically pumped microchip laser and a method for generating electromagnetic laser radiation

Life of this patent

Optically pumped microchip laser and a method for generating electromagnetic laser radiation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14