Method and apparatus for non-dispersive face-cooling of multi-crystal nonlinear optical devices
US6330256A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/3507
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A face-cooling scheme is used with multiple nonlinear crystal formats used primarily for second harmonic generation without the need for air-path rephasing between the crystals. Birefringent crystals, e.g., MgF.sub.2, are cut and oriented such that there is no dispersion between the fundamental and second harmonic wavelengths within each crystal. The crystals are then disposed in a heat-conducting housing sandwiched by two or more nonlinear crystals and used as the face-cooling medium, thereby causing the heat generated in the nonlinear crystals by absorption at the fundamental and second harmonic wavelengths to flow longitudinally (direction of beam propagation) into the face-cooling medium. This minimizes any transverse thermal gradient in the nonlinear crystals and the attendant dephasing loss. The crystals can be dry stacked with a very small gas-filled gap, immersed in a liquid or gel, bonded with optical cement, optically contacted, or diffusion-bonded together to form a composite crystal. Heat generated in the nonlinear optical elements is passively conducted to the birefringent crystals in a direction parallel to the direction of laser energy propagation and then to the hou…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.