Solid state laser including a single mode gain swept configuration
US6320889A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/105
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A single mode laser is described including a gain swept configuration. The laser includes an input mirror and an output mirror defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors. A laser gain material is positioned at a predetermined location along the light path and arranged with a predetermined gain length along the light path for producing light at the desired output wavelength such that a standing wave pattern at the desired output wavelength is formed within the cavity between the mirrors. The gain material is capable of producing light at other, unwanted wavelengths which can potentially form other standing wave patterns. All of the wavelengths are produced with some gain. Oscillation means is provided for varying the length of the light path which, by varying the length of the light path a sufficient amount, causes the standing wave pattern of the desired output wavelength to oscillate as a traveling wave along the light path such that the standing wave pattern moves through at least substantially the entire gain length of the gain material along the light path for extracting substantially all of the available gain from the gain ma…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.