Zig-zag laser amplifier with polarization controlled reflectors
US7123634B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1643
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A solid state zig-zag slab laser amplifier in which depolarization occurring at total internal reflection from opposed lateral faces of the amplifier slab is controlled by selecting a complex evanescent coating that provides a selected phase retardance that results in minimization of depolarization. Without use of the complex coating, small changes in incidence angles can result in phase retardance changes large enough to increase depolarization significantly, especially when the amplifier is operated at higher powers. Appropriate selection of the complex evanescent coating allows a desired phase retardance angle to be maintained relatively constant over a small range of angles of incidence, at a given wavelength, and therefore permits minimization of depolarization and birefringence effects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.