US 4,287,482 A · CW-Pulsed laser

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a spatially coherent laser beam having both CW and pulsed modes. The modes are generated in differing volumetric regions of a single gain medium excited by a continuous energy pump. The CW portion of the output beam passes from the gain medium through a partially transmissive output coupling. The pulsed modes in the output beam are created in the respective region of the gain medium when transition materials from a selected group are stimulated to undergo an abrupt change between their reflective and transmissive states. Either cavity dumped or Q-switched configurations can be created by selective and patterned location of the transition materials at the ends of the gain medium. Symmetric organization of the volumetric regions within the gain medium allows temporal superposition of the two modes while maintaining spatial distinctiveness within the laser beam generated.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An apparatus for generating a spatially coherent laser beam having concurrent CW and pulsed modes, comprising:

a. a gain medium;
b. a means for continuously pumping said medium;
c. a first reflective surface at a first end of said gain medium for optically terminating said gain medium, said first reflective surface having distinct areas for CW and pulsed operating modes;
d. a second reflective surface at a second end of said gain medium, in the form of an output coupling having distinct areas for CW and pulsed operating modes, said second reflective surface disposed oppositely to the said first reflective surface and defining an optical resonant cavity with said first reflective surface;
and
e. a transition material, at one of said ends of said gain medium, having selectively optically reflective and transmissive phases in response to an external stimulus.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

CW-Pulsed laser

Life of this patent

CW-Pulsed laser

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6