Laser cavity assembly
AssigneeElectro Optic Systems Pty Ltd.
InventorBenny Allan Greene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser cavity assembly includes means (12, 13, 14; 14", 56, 57) defining respective optical resonance cavities (20, 22) for stimulated radiation of different wavelengths, which cavities include at least some common volume. Such means includes window means (13, 14) for emission of radiation amplified in the respective cavities. Means (15, 54) in one of said cavities is responsive to stimulated radiation emitted by a laser medium at one of the wavelengths to emit radiation at another of the wavelengths. Dual mode means (12, 54) has respective selectable first and second modes at which the laser cavity assembly is adapted to emit laser radiation predominantly at the respective wavelengths. Also disclosed are a novel Q-switch device and a combination laser oscillator and dual mode means.
Claims34
A laser assembly to selectively emit laser radiation predominately at one of a first wavelength and a second wavelength, said assembly comprising:
- first and second optical resonance cavities for stimulated radiation respectively of said first wavelength and said second wavelength;
- a laser medium in said first cavity responsive to pumping means to emit radiation at said first wavelength;
- a conversion medium in said second cavity, said conversion medium configured to convert radiation of said first wavelength to radiation at said second wavelength, said conversion occurring in response to said radiation at said first wavelength;
- and
- selectively operable dual mode means operative in relation to radiation of said first wavelength in a first mode to cause said assembly to emit laser radiation amplified in said first cavity and predominantly at said first wavelength, and in a second mode to cause said laser assembly to emit laser radiation amplified in said second cavity and predominantly at said second wavelength.
A Q-switch device for laser systems comprising a prism mounted for rotation about an axis intersecting respective two mutually orthogonal faces of the prism which axis is alienable with a optical axis of the laser system, wherein said prism further includes an internal retro-reflective corner in said prism and a mounting to align the retro-reflective corner with the optical axis so as to form an internal corner-cube retroreflector.
A laser apparatus, comprising a laser oscillator having a laser source and selectively operable dual mode means operable in a first mode in which laser radiation at a wavelength possesses one or more prescribed characteristics of intensity or pulse length selected to cause a conversion medium to emit radiation at a second wavelength, said dual operable means being operative in a second mode in which said laser radiation does not possess said characteristic and amplifier means to modify an output of the laser source to alter output between said modes.
A laser assembly to selectively emit laser radiation predominantly at one of a first wavelength and a second wavelength, said assembly comprising:
- first and second optical resonance cavities for stimulated radiation respectively of said first wavelength and said second wavelength;
- a laser medium in said first cavity responsive to pumping means to emit radiation at said first wavelength;
- a conversion medium in said second cavity responsive to radiation of said first wavelength which radiation has an intensity in a predetermined range selected for said conversion medium to emit radiation at said second wavelength;
- selectively operable dual mode means operative in relation to radiation of said first wavelength in a first mode to cause said assembly to emit laser radiation amplified in said first cavity and predominantly at said first wavelength, and in a second mode to cause said laser assembly to emit laser radiation amplified in said second cavity and predominantly at said second wavelength;
- detector means for detecting returned externally reflected or scattered radiation, which radiation is of intensity outside said predetermined range, whereby the conversion medium is not responsive to said returned radiation;
- and
- partially reflecting means to direct such returned radiation to the detector means after is has traversed said conversion medium.
An optical assembly for use with laser radiation, comprising:
- means responsive to laser radiation at one of a plurality of wavelengths having an intensity in a predetermined range of intensity selected for said responsive means to emit radiation in a given direction at another of said wavelengths;
- detector means for detecting radiation at said other wavelength received from said direction of emission, which received radiation is of an intensity outside said range whereby the responsive means is not responsive to said received radiation at said other wavelength;
- and
- partially reflecting means to direct such received radiation to the detector means after it has traversed said radiation responsive means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.