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US 6,829,257 B2Granted
Transverse flowing liquid Kerr cell for high average power laser Q-switching and for direct modulation of high power laser beams.
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorBrian J. Comaskey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid flow concept is applied in an optical apparatus to define a high gain stand-off, fast electro-optical q-switch which is highly impervious to high average power optical loads.
Claims26
An optical apparatus, comprising:
- a container comprising a pair of electrodes and an electro-optically active medium;
- and
- a circulation system for rapidly moving the medium into and out of the container to minimize thermally induced optical distortion.
An optical apparatus, comprising:
- at least one container arranged along an optic axis, wherein each said container comprises a pair of electrodes and an electro-optically active fluid;
- and
- a circulation system, capable of producing a transverse rapid flow of the fluid into and out of each said container with respect to an input beam to minimize thermally induced optical distortion, said beam further comprising a predetermined polarization and direction.
An optical apparatus, comprising:
- at least a first and a second container arranged in series along an optic axis and adapted to receive and pass an input optical beam, said beam having a predetermined polarization,
- at least one pair of electrodes positioned in each of the containers and arranged substantially parallel to the optic axis,
- a fluid introduced within the containers, wherein the fluid is capable of electro-optical activity when subjected to the electrodes interposed electric field;
- and
- a circulation system adapted to produce a transverse flow of the fluid into and out of each container with respect to the input beam and adapted to counter-flow the fluid into and out of the second container with respect to the first container such that thermally induced optical distortion are further minimized.
2 more elements
An optical method, comprising:
- directing a beam having a predetermined polarization and direction to at least one container arranged along an optic axis and adapted to receive and pass the beam,
- transversely flowing a fluid capable of electro-optical activity into and out of each of the containers to minimize thermally induced optical distortion;
- and
- applying a predetermined electric field to the fluid in each container such that the fluid becomes electro-optically active.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.