Upconversion pumped lasers
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsSlava A. Pollack, David B. Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser incorporating a laser medium disposed within a laser cavity and a pumping arrangement for selectively applying excitation energy to said laser medium. The laser medium contains upconverting material of the type which allows for the exchange of energy between electrons of the lasing ions at a given energy state below the meta-stable initial lasing state so that some of said exchanging electrons are upconverted to energy states at or above the meta-stable initial lasing state. The pumping arrangement applies energy of suitable wavelength and intensity for elevating electrons from energy levels below the given state to that state in sufficient numbers to support substantial upconversion and the resulting lasing.
Claims23
A laser arrangement comprising:
- a laser resonator cavity;
- a laser medium, that incorporates lasing ions, disposed within said laser resonator cavity, said laser medium containing upcoverting material which allows for exchange of energy between electrons of lasing ions at a given energy state below a meta-stable initial lasing state so that some of said exchanging electrons are upconverted to energy states at or above the meta-stable initial lasing state;
- and
- pumping means operably coupled to said laser medium for selectively applying excitation energy to said laser medium said selected excitation energy having only wavelengths which are longer than the wavelength corresponding to the energy difference between said meta-stable initial lasing state and a ground state and having an intensity suitable for elevating electrons from energy levels below said given state to said given state in sufficient numbers to support substantial upconversion and continuous lasing, said pumping means and resulting upconversion being capable of serving as a sole means for pumping said laser medium.
A laser arrangement comprising:
- a laser resonator cavity;
- a laser medium disposed within said laser resonator cavity, said laser medium comprising a calcium fluoride crystal rod hosting erbium ions;
- and
- pumping means operably coupled to said laser medium to apply 1.54 um excitation energy to said laser medium.
A laser arrangement comprising;
- a laser resonator cavity;
- a laser medium, that incorporates lasing ions, disposed within said laser resonator cavity, said laser medium containing upconverting material which allows for exchange of energy between electrons of lasing ions at a given energy state below a meta-stable initial lasing state so that some of said exchanging electrons are upconverted to energy states at or above the meta-stable initial lasing state;
- and
- pumping means operably coupled to said laser medium and said selected excitation energy having only wavelengths which are longer than the wavelength corresponding to the energy difference between said meta-stable initial lasing state and a ground state in sufficient numbers to support substantial upconversion and lasing in said laser medium between said meta-stable initial lasing state and said given state said pumping means and resulting upconversion being capable of serving as a sole means for pumping said laser medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.