Wavelength selector for laser with adjustable angular dispersion
US6393037B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/141
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable laser is provided having a gain medium and a resonator for generating a laser beam, and an angular dispersion element. The laser further includes a beam expander with adjustable magnification for adjusting an angular dispersion provided by the dispersion element. The adjustable beam expander preferably includes one or two rotatable prisms. When two prisms are used, the prisms are preferably synchronously rotatable according to a preset ratio such that any changes in refraction angle due to the rotation of the first prism are automatically compensated by the rotation of the second prism. A single prism may serve both as a dispersion element and as a beam expansion element. A processor preferably monitors the linewidth and wavelength of the output beam and adjusts an orientation of the prism or prisms of the expansion unit, and the tilt of either a reflection grating or a highly reflective mirror of the resonator in a feedback loop.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.