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US 4,907,235 AGranted
Intra-cavity beam relay for optical harmonic generation
AssigneeLaserscope
InventorDirk J. Kuizenga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Intra-cavity generation of second and higher harmonic frequency laser radiation is improved by inclusion of a lens or multiple-lens arrangement that focuses electromagnetic radiation emitted by the active laser medium on a wavelength conversion means within the cavity or on removal means to remove the second or higher harmonic radiation from the cavity.
Claims18
Laser resonator structure that comprises:
- an optical cavity, containing a first mirror and a second mirror, that is resonant for electromagnetic radiation of a first predetermined wavelength;
- a laser medium, positioned within the optical cavity, to produce a beam of electromagnetic radiation of approximately the first wavelength that follows an optical path as the radiation beam propagates within the optical cavity;
- means, positioned within the optical cavity and spaced apart from the laser medium, for receiving radiation of the first wavelength produced by the laser medium;
- and
- relaying means, positioned within the optical cavity between the laser medium and the means for receiving, for accepting a radiation beam of a first diameter D.sub.1 at a defined position relating to the laser medium and for relaying this radiation to the means for receiving so that the radiation beam has a second diameter D.sub.2 at the means for receiving and the ratio m of the diameters D2/D1 is independent of the properties of the mirrors in the optical cavity and the focusing properties of the laser medium and the means for receiving.
2 more elements
Laser resonator apparatus that comprises;
- an optical cavity that is resonant for electromagnetic radiation of a first predetermined wavelength;
- a laser medium, positioned within the optical cavity and having at least one output end, to produce a beam of electromagnetic radiation of approximately the first wavelength;
- means, positioned within the optical cavity and spaced apart from the laser medium, for receiving radiation of the first wavelength produced by the laser medium;
- relaying means, positioned within the optical cavity between the laser medium and the means for receiving, for accepting a radiation beam of a first diameter D.sub.1 at the output end of the laser medium and for relaying this radiation to the means for receiving so that the radiation beam has a second diameter D.sub.2 at the means for receiving, wherein the relaying means is a lens of focal length f, spaced apart from the laser medium by a distance d.sub.1 and spaced apart from the means for receiving by a distance d.sub.2, where f, d.sub.1 and d.sub.2 are related by the relation 1/f=1/d.sub.1 +1/d.sub.2 ;
- so that the ratio of diameters D.sub.2 /D.sub.1 is given by d.sub.2 /d.sub.1 ;
- and
- removal means, positioned within or forming part of the optical cavity, for receiving radiation from the means for receiving and for allowing at least a portion of this radiation of the second wavelength to exit from the optical cavity while retaining radiation of the first wavelength within the optical cavity.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.