Controlling second harmonic efficiency of laser beam interactions

US7912101B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Norman P. Barnes · Yorktown, US
• Brian M. Walsh · Poquoson, US
• Donald J. Reichle · Seaford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 2009
• Grant date: Mar 22, 2011
• Expiry date: Dec 1, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/0092
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling second harmonic efficiency of laser beam interactions. A laser system generates two laser beams (e.g., a laser beam with two polarizations) for incidence on a nonlinear crystal having a preferred direction of propagation. Prior to incidence on the crystal, the beams are optically processed based on the crystal's beam separation characteristics to thereby control a position in the crystal along the preferred direction of propagation at which the beams interact.