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US 8,335,420 B2Granted
Hybrid fiber-rod laser
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsRaymond J. Beach, Jay W. Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Christopher P. J. Barty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Single, or near single transverse mode waveguide definition is produced using a single homogeneous medium to transport both the pump excitation light and generated laser light. By properly configuring the pump deposition and resulting thermal power generation in the waveguide device, a thermal focusing power is established that supports perturbation-stable guided wave propagation of an appropriately configured single or near single transverse mode laser beam and/or laser pulse.
Claims24
An apparatus, comprising;
- a core of rod shaped optical material comprising a positive dn/dT, wherein said rod shaped optical material consists essentially of a single homogenous material having no substantial variation in index of refraction;
- and
- a pump excitation source configured for optically pumping via longitudinal excitation said core with pump light, wherein said longitudinal excitation establishes a transverse thermal gradient in said rod according to said positive dn/dT, wherein said transverse thermal gradient produces a distributed thermal lens that supports perturbation stable guided wave propagation of single or near single transverse mode laser light by balancing the diffractive nature of said laser light with the focusing power of said distributed thermal lens as said laser light propagates along its path.
A method, comprising;
- providing a core of rod shaped optical material comprising a positive dn/dT, wherein said rod shaped optical material consists essentially of a single homogenous material having no substantial variation in index of refraction;
- and
- optically pumping said core with pump light from a pump excitation source, wherein said pump light establishes a transverse thermal gradient in said rod according to said positive dn/dT, wherein said transverse thermal gradient produces a distributed thermal lens that supports perturbation stable guided wave propagation of single or near single transverse mode laser light by balancing the diffractive nature of said laser light with the focusing power of said distributed thermal lens as said laser light propagates along its path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.