Patent · US Expired

Unidirectionally operating laser apparatus using semimonolithic ring cavity

US6064684A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
5References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 27, 1998
Grant dateMay 16, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 27, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S3/1066
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A unidirectionally operating laser apparatus using a semi-monolithic ring cavity having a compact structure capable of achieving a high frequency stability and a high-speed laser frequency tuning and modulation. The laser apparatus includes a laser active medium having a curved surface exhibiting an anti-reflection characteristic for a pump laser beam from a pump laser incident thereon while exhibiting a high reflection characteristic for an oscillating laser beam, a planar surface exhibiting an anti-reflection characteristic for the oscillating laser beam, and an optically-active polarization rotator attached to one side portion of the planar surface. The laser apparatus also includes an output mirror separated from the laser active medium, the output mirror having a curved surface with a coating exhibiting a higher reflectance coefficient for S-polarized beams than that for P-polarized beams, and a piezo-electric transducer. The laser apparatus is applicable to a variety of scientific fields using continuous-wave wavelength-tunable lasers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.