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US 7,031,366 B2Granted
Using relay lens to enhance optical performance of an external cavity laser
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorRussell W. Gruhlke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of enhancing wavelength tuning performance in an external cavity laser includes emitting light into the cavity of the laser at a range of angles relative to an optical axis of the cavity, and transforming emitted light of narrow beam divergence to light with beam divergence wider than the narrow beam divergence. The method further includes diffractively focusing the light of wider beam divergence.
Claims24
An external cavity laser comprising:
- an optical relay element operable to transform an emitted light beam of lower beam divergence to a light beam of higher beam divergence;
- an optical gain medium in the cavity of said external cavity laser, said optical gain medium capable of emitting said light of lower beam divergence over a range of wavelengths and angles;
- and
- a diffractive focusing element comprising a central radial portion and a peripheral radial portion, said central radial portion having a dispersivity less than a threshold, said peripheral radial portion having a dispersivity greater than said threshold, said diffractive focusing element operable to diffractively focus said light beam of higher beam divergence back into said optical gain medium at differing wavelength-dependent focal distances;
- wherein said optical relay element is disposed optically between said optical gain medium and said diffractive focusing element.
2 more elements
A method of enhancing wavelength tuning performance in an external cavity laser, said method comprising:
- emitting light into the cavity of said laser at a range of angles relative to an optical axis of said cavity;
- transforming said emitted light of narrow beam divergence to light of beam divergence wider than said narrow beam divergence;
- and
- diffractively focusing said light of said wider beam divergence.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.