Wave guide laser with frustration element
OwnerHeinrich Karning, Franz Preininventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
On one side of a waveguide laser (1), the cavity is terminated by two totally reflecting optical elements or by one totally reflecting element and one (partially) reflecting element (6; 7). The other side of the laser faces the long side (10") of a prism (10), in contact or with spacing, serving to fold the beam. A further prism (11) cooperates with one of the short sides (10') of the prism (10) cooperate to form a variable gap to influence the oscillation of the laser beam. If both of the optical elements (6; 7) are totally reflecting, the beam may be extracted from the cavity at this point. The function of the two prisms is that of a Q-switch with short operating times, which can also be designated as a frustration element.
Claims11
In a modulated laser system comprising a first waveguide having first and second endfaces, a frustration element, and a first and second optical element, wherein, said first optical element is totally reflecting;
- a first beam path traverses said first waveguide;
- said first waveguide is defined adjacent said first endface by said first optical element and is defined adjacent said second endface by said frustration element;
- and said frustration element comprises first and second optically refracting parts movably positioned adjacent to each other with a gap of variable width between said first and second refracting parts, and transducer means for supporting said first and second parts in physical positions with respect to each other in response to modulation information, said first part being configured and dimensioned to fold a beam exiting along said first beam path by internal reflection in said first path onto said second optical element if said first and second parts are not in contact and said beam is coupled out by said second part if said first and second parts are in contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.