Multi-pass light amplifier
US5615043A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/09415
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A multiple-pass laser amplifier that uses optical focusing between subsequent passes through a single gain medium so that a reproducibly stable beam size is achieved within the gain region. A confocal resonator or White Cell resonator is provided, including two or three curvilinearly shaped mirrors facing each other along a resonator axis and an optical gain medium positioned on the resonator axis between the mirrors (confocal resonator) or adjacent to one of the mirrors (White Cell). In a first embodiment, two mirrors, which may include adjacent lenses, are configured so that a light beam passing through the gain medium and incident on the first mirror is reflected by that mirror toward the second mirror in a direction approximately parallel to the resonator axis. A light beam translator, such as an optical flat of transparent material, is positioned to translate this light beam by a controllable amount toward or away from the resonator axis for each pass of the light beam through the translator. The optical gain medium may be solid-state, liquid or gaseous medium and may be pumped longitudinally or transversely. In a second embodiment, first and second mirrors face a third mirror…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.