Ultrafine powders and their use as lasing media
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsRichard M. Laine, Stephen C. Rand, Thomas Hinklin, Guy R. Williams
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Abstract
Doped, nanosize metal oxide particles have been shown to exhibit stimulated emission and continuous-wave laser action when energized appropriately, for example by electron beams. The doped particles are useful as solid state lasing devices and “laser paints”. Particles containing homogeneously distributed dopant atoms in concentrations greater than the thermodynamic solubility in the metal oxide matrix, and having in some circumstances, unusual oxidation states, have been produced.
Claims21
A process for the preparation of optically active mixed metal oxide powder having a mean particle size of less than 500 nm, said process comprising pyrolyzing a mixture of at least one matrix metal oxide precursor compound and at least one transition metal or rare earth metal dopant compound at a temperature in the range of 500° C. to 2500° C. in the vapor phase and condensing to form a powder of mixed metal oxides which exhibits stimulated emission of radiation, pulsed laser action, or continuous laser action.
A solid state laser device comprising at least one optically active mixed metal oxide powder having a mean particle size less than 500 nm, said mixed metal oxide powders comprising a matrix metal oxide, and a dopant metal oxide selected from transition metal oxides and rare earth metal oxides, optical feedback to sustain laser action provided by strong localization of light in the strong scattering regime.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.