Coupled-cavity Q-switched laser
AssigneeMassachusette Institute of Technology
InventorsJohn J. Zayhowski, Aram Mooradian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Q-switched laser having a gain medium disposed within a first cavity and a second cavity whose optical path length is adjustable such that the quality of the first resonant cavity is affected. One aspect of the invention is the changing of the physical path length of the second cavity so as to affect the reflectivity of a mirror common to both cavities as seen from the first cavity. Another aspect of the invention is the incorporation, within the second cavity, of a material whose refractive index or absorption coefficient can be varied by the application of an electric field, a magnetic field, a temperature change or an applied pressure.
Claims29
A Q-switched laser comprising a gain medium disposed within a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity disposed adjacent to the first resonant cavity, the optical path length of the second resonant cavity being adjustable such that the net gain of the first resonant cavity containing said gain medium is affected through optical interactions with the second cavity.
A Q-switched laser comprising a gain medium disposed within a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity disposed adjacent to the first resonant cavity, the optical path length of the first resonant cavity being adjustable such that the net gain of the first resonant cavity containing said gain medium is affected through optical interactions with the second cavity.
A Q-switched laser comprising a gain medium disposed within a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity disposed adjacent to the first resonant cavity, between the first resonant cavity and an optical pump, the optical path length of the second resonant cavity being adjustable such that the net gain of the first resonant cavity containing said gain medium is affected through optical interactions with the second cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.