Glass fiber laser system using U-doped crystal Q-switch
US5652756A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/175
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A glass fiber laser system includes a laser resonator cavity having a resonant path and an erbium-doped glass fiber lasing element with an output of from about 1.5 to about 1.6 micrometers within the laser resonator cavity. A light source directed into an input end of the glass fiber lasing element optically pumps the lasing element to emit light. A passive Q-switch lies along the resonant path within the laser resonator cavity. The Q-switch is formed of a host material having a concentration of uranium ions therein, so as to be a saturable absorber of the light emitted by the lasing element. The Q-switch is preferably a uranium-doped fluoride crystal such as U:CaF.sub.2, U:SrF.sub.2, or U:BaF.sub.2.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.