Method of controlling lasing wavelength(s)

US6141368A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Norman P. Barnes · Yorktown, US
• Keith E. Murray · White Marsh, US
• Ralph L. Hutcheson · Bozeman, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 13, 1998
• Grant date: Oct 31, 2000
• Expiry date: May 13, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/08086
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method is provided to control the lasing wavelength of a laser material without changing or adjusting the mechanical components of a laser device. The rate at which the laser material is pumped with the pumping energy is controlled so that lasing occurs at one or more lasing wavelengths based on the rate. The lasing wavelengths are determined by transition lifetimes and/or energy transfer rates.