Spatially-distributed gain element self-phase-locked, laser apparatus and method
US10516246B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 2017 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/125
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is related to laser technology which enables efficient, passive, coherent beam combination from distributed gain sources. The present invention includes a novel architecture which coherently combines the power from multiple sources, and which adds considerable flexibility to laser gain materials for many applications. The novel architecture of the present invention combines two techniques: 1) beam splitting and combination; and 2) phase-locking (i.e., maintaining a common phase relationship between multiple beams), using reflective gratings. Thus, the present invention addresses important limitations in laser technology: efficiency, power scaling and wavelength selectivity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.