Microlaser cavity, a solid state pulsed microlaser with active Q-switching by a micromodulator and method forming same

US5703890A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · FR

Inventors

• Philippe Thony · Voiron, FR
• Marc Rabarot · St-Estève, FR
• Engin Molva · Grenoble, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 14, 1996
• Grant date: Dec 30, 1997
• Expiry date: Jun 14, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/0615
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a microlaser cavity, with active Q switching, characterized in that it comprises: PA1 an active laser medium (20), an input mirror (22) and an output mirror (24, 87) defining the cavity, PA1 a micromodulator with frustrated total internal reflection, comprising two microprisms (32, 34) made of a certain material of index n.sub.1 each having at least one planar face (36, 38), the two planar faces being approximately parallel to each other and inclined on the microlaser cavity axis, thereby defining a plate (30) of a certain material of index n.sub.2 less than n.sub.1. PA1 means (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) for varying the thickness of the plate.