Tunable laser systems and method
AssigneeResearch Corporation
InventorsChung-Liang Tang, John M. Telle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tunable laser includes a birefringent tuning crystal placed in the laser cavity. An electrical signal is applied to the tuning crystal to establish an electrical tuning field within the crystal, and a desired laser tuning rate as a function of the applied electrical signal is established by rotating the optic axis of the crystal through a selected small acute angle from the direction of the laser light path through the crystal. The tunable laser is included in tunable laser systems for derivative spectroscopy and transient spectroscopy.
Claims10
In a tunable laser having a tunable laser cavity, the improvement which comprises:
- a birefringent tuning crystal disposed in the laser light path within the cavity and having an end surface through which the optic axis of the crystal projects;
- and
- means for positioning the crystal with said light path incident upon said crystal end surface and the optic axis of the crystal at selected small acute angles to the direction of the laser light path through the crystal, to tune the laser to selected wavelengths.
A method for tuning a laser having a tunable laser cavity, which comprises:
- placing a birefringent tuning crystal, having an end surface through which the optic axis of the crystal projects, in the laser light path within the cavity;
- and
- positioning the crystal with said light path incident upon said crystal end surface and the optic axis of the crystal at selected small acute angles to the direction of the laser light path through the crystal, to tune the laser to selected wavelengths.
An apparatus for tuning a laser having a tunable laser cavity, which comprises:
- a birefringent tuning crystal disposed in the laser light path within the cavity and having an end surface through which the optic axis of the crystal projects;
- means for applying a selectable electrical signal to the crystal to establish an electrical tuning field therein;
- and
- means for positioning the crystal with said light path incident upon said crystal end surface and the optic axis of the crystal at selected small acute angles to the direction of the laser light path through the crystal, to establish a desired tuning rate at which the laser is tuned by said electrical signal to selected wavelengths.
A method for tuning the wavelength of a laser having a tunable laser cavity, which comprises:
- placing a birefringent tuning crystal, having an end surface through which the optic axis of the crystal projects, in the laser light path within the cavity;
- applying a selectable electrical signal to the crystal to establish an electrical tuning field therein;
- and
- positioning the crystal with said light path incident upon said crystal end surface and angularly displacing the optic axis of the crystal through selected small acute angles from the direction of the laser light path through the crystal, to produce a desired change in laser wavelength tuning rate as a function of the applied electrical signal to the crystal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.