Monolithic multifunctional optical elements

Abstract

Optical apparatus that combines a plurality of separate optical functions into a single monolithic optical element. The the optical element comprises two or three optical functions, such as saturable absorption, retroreflection, and polarization rotation. The optical element comprises a body that is formed in the shape of a right-angle porro prism. The optical element is fabricated from a garnet material that combines the properties of high refractive index (greater than 1.414 to permit total internal reflection at a 45 degree incidence angle), saturable optical absorption (to provide Q-switching), and tolerance to high temperatures (to permit application of anti-reflection coatings). The optical element may be comprised of garnet materials such as yttrium aluminum garnet, gadolinium scandium gallium garnet, or gadolinium scandium aluminum garnet, for example. Doping the garnet materials with tetravalent chromium (Cr.sup.4+), for example, provides for saturable absorption while the natural properties of garnet materials provide high temperature tolerance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.