Generation of coherent optical radiation by optical mixing
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorsGeorge J. Dixon, Douglas W. Anthon, John H. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An efficient, compact source of coherent radiation in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet portion of the spectrum which is capable of modulation rates over the range from O Hz to in excess of 1 GHz. The radiation is produced by optical mixing within an external optical cavity wherein at least one of the interacting beams of light is provided by a solid state device selected from the group consisting of laser diodes, laser diode arrays and diode-pumped solid state lasers.
Claims30
A method for generating coherent optical radiation which comprises:
- (a) generating coherent optical radiation of a first frequency, w.sub.1, from a first source;
- (b) generating coherent optical radiation of a second frequency, w.sub.2, from a second source, wherein said second source comprises a laser diode;
- (c) introducing said radiation of frequency w.sub.1 and said radiation of frequency w.sub.2 into an optical cavity;
- and
- (d) converting said radiation of frequency w.sub.1 and said radiation of frequency w.sub.2 into coherent optical radiation of a third frequency, w.sub.3, by optical mixing within a nonlinear optical material which is contained within said optical cavity.
An apparatus for generating coherent optical radiation which comprises:
- (a) means for generating coherent optical radiation of a first frequency, w.sub.1 ;
- (b) means for generating coherent optical radiation of a second frequency, w.sub.2, which comprises a laser diode;
- (c) an optical cavity;
- (d) means for introducing said radiation of a first frequency and said radiation of a second frequency into said optical cavity;
- and
- (e) nonlinear optical means within said optical cavity for converting said radiation of a first frequency and said radiation of a second frequency into coherent optical radiation of a third frequency, w.sub.3, by optical mixing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.