Optically pumped active mirror with improved performance and reduced parasitics
AssigneeHRL Laboratories, LLC
InventorsDavid S. Sumida, David M. Pepper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and a method for providing more gain while minimizing the potential for parasitic oscillation and amplified spontaneous emissions in an optically pumped optical amplifier or laser system, utilizing a partitioned monolithic gain element. The monolithic gain element being partitioned into discontinuous amplifying gain regions such that parasitic modes and amplified spontaneous emissions are substantially obviated.
Claims23
A gain medium comprising:
- a substrate;
- a reflecting layer disposed on said substrate;
- and
- a layer of gain material disposed on said reflecting layer, said layer of gain material comprising a plurality of optical gain regions and a plurality of optical lossy regions, said plurality of optical lossy regions being lossy at a signal wavelength of the gain medium and isolating the plurality of optical gain regions from one another.
A method of minimizing the potential for parasitic oscillation modes and amplified spontaneous emissions, comprising:
- fabricating a monolithic gain element;
- and
- partitioning said monolithic gain element into a plurality of gain regions and lossy regions, the lossy regions scattering light away from monolithic gain element in order to minimize the creation of localized hot spots when the monolithic gain element is pumped by an optical source.
A laser system, comprising:
- an input signal beam;
- at least one pumping source;
- and
- at least one monolithic gain medium element pumped by said at least one pumping source in order to amplify said input signal beam to produce an amplified output signal beam, the monolithic gain medium element having a substrate;
- a reflecting layer disposed on said substrate;
- and a layer of gain material comprising a plurality of gain regions and a plurality of lossy regions, said plurality of lossy regions isolating the plurality of gain regions from one another.
A laser system comprising:
- an input signal beam;
- at least one pumping source;
- a plurality of monolithic gain medium elements forming a planar array having a lossy configuration to minimize modes of operation that are substantially transverse to the planar array, while maintaining, a high-gain path for a mode of operation that is substantially normal to the planar array;
- and
- a plurality of amplifier stages, each of the amplifier stages comprising said plurality of monolithic gain medium elements, a subsequent amplifier stage comprising at least one second said monolithic gain medium element, and each of said plurality of monolithic gain medium elements being adapted to receive the input signal beam, being pumped by said at least one pumping source, and being partitioned into gain regions and lossy regions in order to amplify said input signal beam to produce the amplified output signal beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.