Back to results
US 5,473,626 AGranted
Two-axial-mode solid-state laser
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsTso Y. Fan, Peter A. Schulz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for producing laser output from a solid-state laser is described. The laser output comprises two orthogonally polarized axial modes of light at different frequencies having linear polarization. In one embodiment, the two modes are at different frequencies and can be merged together to produce energy waves of variable frequency. This device has applications in microwave generation and velocity measurements.
Claims29
A laser system comprising;
- a) a laser cavity defined between a first mirror and a second mirror;
- b) a gain medium;
- c) a source for pumping said gain medium with energy to cause stimulated emission of light waves;
- d) a single birefringent element disposed within said laser cavity for producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity;
- each of said modes propagating at a separate frequency, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) a frequency selective optic disposed within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two modes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) said gain medium being located within said laser cavity at any of said locations.
5 more elements
A laser system comprising:
- a) a laser cavity defined between a first mirror and a second mirror;
- b) a gain medium;
- c) a source for pumping said gain medium with energy for causing stimulated emission of light waves;
- d) a single birefringent element means disposed within said laser cavity adjacent to said first mirror for producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity;
- each of said modes propagating at a separate frequency, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) a frequency selective optic disposed within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two modes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) said gain medium being located within said laser cavity at any of said locations.
5 more elements
A laser system comprising:
- a) a laser cavity formed of a first mirror and second mirror;
- b) a source for pumping said laser cavity with energy;
- and
- c) a birefringent gain medium disposed between said mirrors;
- said birefringent gain medium being pumped by said energy source for producing two orthogonally polarized axial modes of light;
- each of said light waves having similar wavelengths within said birefringent gain medium, and having separate wavelengths external to said birefringent gain medium;
- said birefringent gain medium being disposed at a distance from said first mirror such that the sum of the intensities of said two orthogonal modes within said gain medium is nearly constant.
4 more elements
A method for producing polarized laser radiation comprising:
- a) forming a resonant cavity comprised of two oppositely disposed mirrors;
- b) disposing a single birefringent element within said resonant cavity;
- c) disposing a gain medium within said resonant cavity;
- d) pumping said resonant cavity with energy, for producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity propagating at separate frequencies, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) disposing a frequency selective optic within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two modes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) locating said gain medium at any of said locations.
4 more elements
A method for producing polarized laser radiation comprising:
- a) forming a resonant cavity comprised of two oppositely disposed mirrors;
- b) disposing a single birefringent element means within said resonant cavity between said mirrors and proximal to one of said mirrors;
- c) disposing a gain medium within said resonant cavity;
- d) pumping said resonant cavity with energy, producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity propagating at separate frequencies, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) disposing a frequency selective optic within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two montes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) locating said gain medium at any of said locations.
4 more elements
A method for producing polarized laser radiation comprising:
- a) forming a laser cavity comprising two oppositely disposed mirrors;
- b) pumping said laser cavity with energy;
- and
- c) disposing a birefringent gain medium between said mirrors;
- said birefringent gain medium producing two orthogonally polarized axial modes of light;
- each of said light waves having similar wavelengths within said birefringent gain medium, and having separate wavelengths external to said birefringent gain medium;
- said birefringent gain medium being disposed at a distance from one of said mirrors such that the sum of the intensities of said two orthogonal modes within said gain medium is nearly constant.
4 more elements
A laser system comprising
- a) a laser cavity defined between a first mirror and a second mirror;
- b) a gain medium;
- c) a source for pumping said gain medium with energy to cause stimulated emission of light waves;
- d) a single birefringent element means disposed within said laser cavity for producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity;
- each of said modes propagating at a separate frequency, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) a frequency selective optic disposed within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two modes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) said gain medium being located within said laser cavity at any of said locations.
5 more elements
A method for producing polarized laser radiation comprising:
- a) forming a resonant cavity comprised of two oppositely disposed mirrors;
- b) disposing a single birefringent element means within said resonant cavity;
- c) disposing a gain medium within said resonant cavity;
- d) pumping said resonant cavity with energy, for producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity propagating at separate frequencies, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) disposing a frequency selective optic within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two modes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) locating said gain medium at any of said locations.
4 more elements
A laser system comprising:
- a) a laser cavity defined between a first mirror and a second mirror;
- b) a gain medium;
- c) a source for pumping said gain medium with energy to cause stimulated emission of light waves;
- d) a single birefringent element disposed within said laser cavity for producing two orthogonally linearly polarized axial modes of light intensity;
- each of said modes propagating at a separate frequency, the difference between mode frequencies being .DELTA.F;
- e) a frequency selective optic disposed within said laser cavity for selecting .DELTA.F to provide a plurality of locations within said laser cavity at which the sum of the intensities of said two modes is nearly constant;
- and
- f) said gain medium being located within said laser cavity at any of said a locations, other than the location nearest said birefringent element.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.