Control of parasitic laser oscillations in solid-state lasers by frustrating total internal reflections
US6587488B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Parasitic oscillations are eliminated in solid-state laser components by applying a pattern of grooves to the peripheral sections that do not transmit the desired laser radiation. Additionally, the invention frustrates total internal reflections at polished peripheral component walls by providing a pattern of roughened surface sections in between polished sections. The roughened surfaces may be only microns deep or may be as deep as a few centimeters for large components. The grooves should be sufficiently deep as to inhibit any total internal reflections. The invention applies to all common solid-state architectures that are designed with polished surfaces that do not serve to propagate the desired laser radiation. Examples are slabs, plates, laser rods, waveguides and disks functioning as laser oscillators or amplifiers. The invention is operational with conventional crystal or glass laser hosts or with hosts that are composites of same, similar or dissimilar crystals or glasses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.