Brillouin laser

US11101616B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Yale University · US

Inventors

• Peter Rakich · New Haven, US
• Nils Thomas Otterstrom · Edgewood, US
• Eric Kittlaus · Pasadena, US
• Ryan Behunin · Flagstaff, US
• Zheng Wang · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 24, 2021
• Expiry date: May 11, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/094049
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Techniques for producing a Brillouin laser are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are based on forward Brillouin scattering and a multimode acousto-optic waveguide in which light is scattered between optical modes of the waveguide via the Brillouin scattering. This process may transfer energy from a waveguide mode of pump light to a waveguide mode of Stokes light. This process may be referred to herein as Stimulated Inter-Modal Brillouin Scattering (SIMS). Since SIMS is based on forward Brillouin scattering, laser (Stokes) light may be output in a different direction than back toward the input pump light, and as such there is no need for a circulator or other non-reciprocal device to protect the pump light as in conventional devices.