Pulsed laser apparatus and method
US7120174B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/115
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laser apparatus for generating optical pulses is disclosed, said laser apparatus has a reflecting gain element preferably including a fiber gain medium. The reflecting gain element is coupled to a controllable reflecting/transmitting module having a reflecting state and a transmitting state, wherein the controllable reflecting/transmitting means are operable to switch from the transmitting state to the reflecting state to initiate a build-up of an optical pulse, and to switch back to the transmitting state for outputting the optical pulse before it reaches the reflecting/transmitting means after a cavity roundtrip. In a preferred embodiment, the controllable reflecting/transmitting module includes an acousto-optic switch at an output end of a laser operable to output the optical pulse in zeroth diffraction order.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.