Q-switched semiconductor laser

US6215805A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Heinrich Hertz Institut fuer Nachrichtentechnik Berlin GmbH. · DE

Inventors

• Bernd Sartorius · Berlin, DE
• Martin Moehrle · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 10, 2001
• Expiry date: Sep 29, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/06258
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A Q-switched semiconductor laser is supposed to facilitate high-frequency laser modulation with low currents or voltage ranges. According to the invention, a laser of this type consists of at least one continually pumped active medium and two optically coupled resonators at least one of which is passive, both resonators having different mode combs corresponding to the Nonius principle, at least one resonator mirror taking the form of a reflector with strongly dispersive reflection characteristics in the laser wavelength range selected by the double resonator, the index of refraction of the passive resonator and/or reflector capable of being adjusted electronically. With this device, the reflectivity of the laser wavelength can be adjusted in such a way that, with a fixed effective amplification by electrical modulation of the reflectivity of the resonator reflector with strongly dispersive reflection characteristics, the laser threshold can be raised or lowered so as to switch the semiconductor laser on or off.