US 5,297,156 A · Method and apparatus for dual resonant laser upconversion · patentgrep

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Abstract

A laser frequency conversion device employs a dual resonant optical cavity in which closed optical paths exist for both the pump beam and the generated beam. The optical cavity is designed so that the optical paths overlap the acceptance volume in phase space for coupling power from the pump beam into the output beam. At least one of the beams is pumped by an external laser which is aligned and mode matched to the cavity mode. The frequency of the pump laser or the cavity resonance modes is selected, generally by adjustment, to cause buildup of optical power at the pump frequency. The temperature and the angle of the nonlinear material are selected for phase match in the nonlinear interaction within the material. The frequencies of the modes near the output frequency are independently selected to cause buildup of optical power at the output frequency.

Claims74

Dependent claims

An apparatus for generating an optical output beam, the apparatus comprising:

a solid state laser pump means for producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
a resonator cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said solid state laser pump means, for supporting buildup of selected optical power in a first spectral range including said first preselected spectrum and in a second spectral range, said resonator cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
first means for adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to said at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode;
a nonlinear optical element means disposed in said resonator cavity means, which is adjustable to phase match at least two optical beams through said nonlinear optical element means, for generating a second optical beam with a preselected frequency along a second defined axis at least partially overlapping said first defined axis;
and
second means for adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to said preselected frequency of said second optical beam in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said preselected frequency for producing an optical output.

3 more elements

A method for generating an optical output beam comprising the steps of:

producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis with solid state laser pump means, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
building up selected optical power in a first spectral range including said first preselected spectrum and in a second spectral range with resonator cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said solid state laser pump means, said resonator cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode;
generating a second optical beam at a preselected frequency along a second defined axis at least partially overlapping said first defined axis using nonlinear optical element means disposed in said resonator cavity means, said nonlinear optical element being adjustable to phase match at least two optical beams through said nonlinear optical element means;
and
adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to said preselected frequency of said second optical beam in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said preselected frequency for producing an optical output.

3 more elements

An apparatus for generating an optical output beam, the apparatus comprising:

an optical pump means for producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
a resonator cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said optical pump means, for supporting buildup of selected optical power in a first spectral range including said first preselected spectrum and in a second spectral range, said resonator cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
first means for adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode, said first control input being optical feedback for injection locking at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means to said resonator cavity means, said optical feedback being derived from the optical power in said resonator cavity means;
a nonlinear optical element means disposed in said resonator cavity means, which is adjustable to phase match at least two optical beams through said nonlinear optical element means, for generating a second optical beam at a preselected frequency along a second defined axis at least partially overlapping said first defined axis;
and
second means for adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to said preselected frequency of said second optical beam in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said preselected frequency, for producing an optical output.

3 more elements

An apparatus for generating an optical output beam, the apparatus comprising:

a optical pump means for producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
a resonator cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said optical pump means, for supporting buildup of selected optical power in a first spectral range including said first preselected spectrum and in a second spectral range, said resonator cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
first means for adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode;
a nonlinear optical element means disposed in said resonator cavity means, which is adjustable to phase match the generation of a second optical beam with a preselected frequency and a third optical beam from said at least one longitudinal mode, said first optical beam, said second optical beam and said third optical beam at least partially overlapping spatially through said nonlinear optical element means;
and
second means for adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to said preselected frequency in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said preselected frequency, for producing an optical output.

3 more elements

An apparatus for generating an optical output beam, the apparatus comprising:

an optical pump means for producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
a resonator cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said optical pump means, for supporting buildup of selected optical power in a first spectral range including said first preselected spectrum and in a second spectral range, said resonator cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
and
first means for adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode;
a coherent optical source for producing a second optical beam along a second defined axis, said second optical beam having a second preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak within said second spectral range;
and
second means for adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said resonator cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said coherent optical source in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said second longitudinal mode, wherein said optical path length adjusting means is a means for adjusting temperature of media through which passes at least said second optical beam at selected positions within said resonator cavity means.

4 more elements

An apparatus for generating an optical output beam, the apparatus comprising:

an optical pump means for producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
a bidirectional propagation cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said optical pump means for supporting buildup of selected optical power in a first spectral range and in a second spectral range, said bidirectional propagation cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
first means for adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said bidirectional propagation cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode;
a nonlinear optical element means disposed in said bidirectional propagation cavity means, which is adjustable to phase match at least two optical beams through said nonlinear optical element means, which is phase matched for generating a second optical beam at a preselected frequency along a second defined axis at least partially overlapping said first defined axis;
and
second means for adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said bidirectional propagation cavity means relative to said preselected frequency of said second optical beam in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said preselected frequency for producing an optical output.

3 more elements

An apparatus for generating an optical output beam, the apparatus comprising:

an optical pump means for producing a first optical beam along a first defined axis, said first optical beam having a first preselected spectrum having at least one spectral peak;
a ring resonator cavity means coupled to receive said first optical beam from said optical pump means for supporting buildup of selected optical power in a first spectral range and in a second spectral range, said ring resonator cavity means being disposed to have an axis coincident with said first optical beam for admitting a portion of said first optical beam;
first means for adjusting at least one longitudinal mode in said first spectral range of said ring resonator cavity means relative to at least one spectral peak of said optical pump means in response to a first control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said at least one longitudinal mode;
a nonlinear optical element means disposed in said ring resonator cavity means, which is adjustable to phase match at least two optical beams through said nonlinear optical element means, which is phase matched for generating a second optical beam at a preselected frequency along a second defined axis at least partially overlapping said first defined axis;
and
second means for adjusting a second longitudinal mode in said second spectral range of said ring resonator cavity means relative to said preselected frequency of said second optical beam in response to a second control input in order to achieve buildup of optical power at said preselected frequency for producing an optical output.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/984,382Filed 2 Dec 1992 · continuation in part
Priority: 20 Dec 1990
Granted: 22 Mar 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G02F 1/3501
Non-linear optics: constructional details or arrangements of non-linear optical devices, e.g. shape of non-linear crystals
G02F 1/37
Non-linear optics: for second-harmonic generation
G02F 1/39
Non-linear optics: for parametric generation or amplification of light, infrared or ultraviolet waves
G02F 1/3534
Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams:…

Family

Serial632,447Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Dec 1990
Serial826,316Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jan 1992
US 5,134,622 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Jul 1992
US 5,206,868 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Apr 1993
US 5,297,156 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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