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US 6,400,495 B1Granted
Laser system including passively Q-switched laser and gain-switched laser
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorJohn J. Zayhowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passively Q-switched laser is pumped by a first optical input signal to produce a train of optical pulses at a first wavelength. These pulses are then fed into a gain-switched laser. The absorption of energy at the first wavelength induces gain in the cavity of the gain-switched laser at a second wavelength, resulting in the spontaneous generation of an optical output pulse at a preferred eye-safe wavelength.
Claims51
A laser system comprising:
- a first optical signal generated by a solid-state device;
- a passively Q-switched laser coupled to receive the first optical signal, wherein the passively Q-switched laser generates a train of optical pulses;
- and
- a gain-switched laser, coupled to receive the train of optical pulses, producing an optical output signal.
1 more element
A light output system comprising:
- a first input signal generated by a solid-state device;
- a first gain medium fed by the first input signal, an output of the first gain medium generated by passive Q switching;
- and
- a second gain medium fed by the output of the first gain medium, an output of the second gain medium generated by gain switching.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a first resonant cavity defined by a dielectric material between two reflective plates, wherein a first optical output is generated by passively Q switching the first cavity, the first resonant cavity being pumped by a solid-state device;
- and
- a second resonant cavity defined by a dielectric material between two reflective plates, wherein the first optical output is fed into the second cavity to control gain switching therein, the second resonant cavity producing an optical output at a predetermined wavelength.
A laser system comprising:
- a first optical signal pumped by a solid-state device;
- a passively Q-switched laser coupled to receive the first optical signal, wherein the passively Q-switched laser generates a train of optical pulses;
- and
- a gain-switched laser, coupled to receive the train of optical pulses, producing an optical output signal centered near 1.5 micrometers.
1 more element
A resonant cavity having mirrors disposed at either end including:
- a first gain medium pumped by a solid-state device;
- and
- a saturable absorber coupled to the first gain medium, the first gain medium being passively Q-switched using the saturable absorber, wherein the saturable absorber additionally supports gain switching in the resonant cavity to produce an eye-safe output.
A method of producing a light source comprising the steps of:
- providing an optical pump input;
- feeding the optical pump input into a passively Q-switched laser to generate a train of optical pulses at a first wavelength;
- and
- coupling a gain-switched laser to receive the train of optical pulses at the first wavelength, wherein the gain-switched laser produces an optical output signal at a second wavelength.
1 more element
A laser system comprising:
- a solid-state pump means for providing a first optical signal at around an 808-nanometer wavelength;
- a passively Q-switched laser means coupled to the pump means for receiving the first optical signal, wherein the passively Q-switched laser means generates a train of pulses at a wavelength near 1.064 micrometers;
- and
- a gain-switched laser means coupled to receive the train of pulses at a first surface normal to an optical axis that is coated to be highly transmissive at a wavelength near 1.064 micrometers and highly reflective at a wavelength near 1.5 micrometers, the gain-switched laser means having a second surface disposed at an output end that is parallel to the first surface and that is coated to be partially transmissive of wavelengths near 1.5 micrometers, wherein the gain-switched laser means produces an eye-safe optical output signal at around a wavelength of 1.5 micrometers.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- generating a first optical signal from a solid-state device;
- receiving the first optical signal at a passively Q-switched laser device;
- and
- pumping a Ce3+ gain-switched laser device with a fourth-harmonic output of the passively Q-switched laser device to produce an optical output signal.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- generating a first optical signal from a solid-state device;
- receiving the first optical signal at a passively Q-switched laser device;
- and
- pumping a Ti:Al2O3 gain-switched laser device with a second-harmonic output of the passively Q-switched laser device to produce an optical output signal.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- generating a first optical signal from a solid-state device;
- receiving the first optical signal at a passively Q-switched laser device;
- pumping a gain-switched laser device with a harmonic output of the passively Q-switched device to produce an optical output signal.
A laser system comprising:
- a solid-state pump device that produces a first optical signal;
- a passively Q-switched laser device that receives the first optical signal;
- and
- a Ce3+ gain-switched laser device coupled to receive a fourth harmonic of the passively Q-switched laser device, the fourth harmonic being received at a first surface normal to an optical axis that is coated to be highly transmissive at the fourth harmonic and highly reflective at an output wavelength.
1 more element
A laser system comprising:
- a solid-state pump device that produces a first optical signal;
- a passively Q-switched laser device that receives the first optical signal;
- and
- a Ti:Al2O3 gain-switched laser device coupled to receive a second harmonic of the passively Q-switched laser device, the second harmonic being received at a first surface normal to an optical axis that is coated to be highly transmissive at the second harmonic and highly reflective at an output wavelength.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.