Variable pulsewidth lasers
AssigneeRare Earth Medical, Inc.
InventorEdward L. Sinofsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable pulsewidth laser system is disclosed which employs an oscillating reflector to control the duration of laser pulses. In one embodiment, the oscillating mirror is swept (e.g., caused to swing back and forth) about an axis distinct from the optical axis, such that resonant conditions suitable for laser beam generation occur only at a particular location in the oscillating sweep path. By varying the scanning waveform, laser pulses of different durations can be generated.
Claims21
In a laser apparatus having a resonant cavity with an optical axis defined by a high reflection mirror and a transmitting mirror, a gain medium disposed between said mirrors, and a pump source for generating a population inversion within said medium and thereby inducing radiation to traverse said cavity along an optical path between said mirrors, the improvement comprising:
- sweeping means for scanning one of said mirrors in a back and forth motion about an axis distinct the optical axis, such that an output of laser radiation occurs in a pulse at a discrete time and for a discrete duration, the pulse duration being proportional to the rate of back and forth motion of the swept mirror, and the sweeping means further comprising means for varying the angular velocity of said swept mirror.
A method of producing laser radiation pulses defined pulsewidth comprising:
- disposing a gain medium within a resonant cavity having an optical axis, said resonant cavity being defined by a high reflection mirror and a transmitting mirror;
- energizing said gain medium with energy from a pump source to generate a population inversion within said medium and thereby induce radiation to traverse said cavity along an optical path between said mirrors;
- and
- scanning one of said mirrors in a back and forth sweeping motion about an axis distinct from the optical axis, such that an output of laser radiation occurs in a pulse at a discrete time and for a discrete duration when the mirrors are positioned to support lasing activity within said cavity, the pulse duration being proportional to the rate of back and forth motion of the swept mirror, and the sweeping means further comprising means for varying the angular velocity of said swept mirror.
A laser instrument comprises:
- a housing;
- a highly reflective mirror and a partially transmissive mirror disposed within said housing, which mirrors define a resonant cavity;
- a rare earth-doped crystal gain medium disposed in said housing between said mirrors or said resonant cavity;
- a pump source delivery means for delivering energy to said gain medium;
- and
- sweeping means also disposed within said cavity for varying the orientation of one of said mirrors relative to the optical axis by scanning one of said mirrors in a back and forth motion about an axis distinct the optical axis, such that an output of laser radiation occurs in a pulse of a predefined time and for a predefined duration, the pulse duration being proportional to the rate of back and forth motion of the swept mirror, and the sweeping means further comprising means for varying the angular velocity of said swept mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.