Fiber-coupled microsphere Raman laser
US7003002B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/094053
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is a Raman laser and methods related thereto. In the preferred embodiments, the Raman laser comprises a laser pump signal in a fiber waveguide which is optically coupled to a micro-resonator through a fiber taper. The micro-resonator is constructed from a material that has a high Q when it is formed into a micro-resonator and is phase matched to the waveguide. The lasing frequency can be determined based upon the pump input or the micro-resonator material. In the preferred embodiments, the micro-resonator is constructed from a fused silica material. The present invention provides a compact laser with improved emissions and coupling efficiencies and the ability to use stimulated Raman scattering effects to create lasers having frequencies that are otherwise difficult to obtain. Alternative configurations include multiple micro-resonators on a single fiber waveguide and/or utilizing multiple waveguides attached to one or more micro-resonators. The Raman laser can be made to operate in a continuous-wave as opposed to self-pulsing mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.