1.3 .mu.m lasers using Nd.sup.3+ doped apatite crystals
US5734669A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2303/00
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Laser pumping and flashlamp pumping of apatite crystals such as trivalent neodymium-doped strontium fluorapatite (Sr.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.3 F) emits efficient lasing at both 1.059 and 1.328 .mu.m. The pump sources for the SFAP material doped with Nd.sup.3+ includes pulsed Cr:LiSrAlF.sub.6 tuned to approximately 805.4 nm. Alternatively, similar results occurred using a continuous wave laser source of Ti:sapphire tuned to approximately 805.4 nm. A preferred embodiment includes a resonant cavity with a high reflectivity mirror having a reflectivity of 100% and an output coupler mirror with a reflectivity of less than 100%. An optional tuning component such as a Pockels Cell-Polarizer combination can also be included. The SFAP material doped with Nd.sup.3+ exhibits a large absorption cross section, high emission cross section, and long radiative lifetime.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.