Apparatus and method for increasing the bandwidth of a laser beam
US5136599A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/2391
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus using sinusoidal cross-phase modulation, provides a laser pulse having a very broad bandwidth while substantially retaining the input laser's temporal shape. The modulator may be used in a master oscillator system for a laser having a master oscillator-power amplifier (MOPA) configration. The modulator utilizes a first laser providing an output wavelength .lambda. and a second laser providing an output wavelength shifted by a small amount to .lambda.+.DELTA..lambda.. Each beam has a single, linear polarization. Each beam is coupled into a length of polarization-preserving optical fiber. The first laser beam is coupled into the optical fiber with the beam's polarization aligned with the fiber's main axis, and the second beam is coupled into the fiber with its polarization rotated from the main axis by a predetermined angle. Within the fiber, the main axis' polarization defines an interference beam and the orthogonal axis' polarization defines a signal beam. In the interference beam, the first laser beam and the parallel polarized vector component of the other beam interfere to create areas of high and low intensity, which modulates the signal beam by cross pha…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.