Mode-locked laser
US8014428B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/50
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present disclosure provides in a first aspect a mode-locked laser for generating laser pulses. The mode-locked laser comprises an optical coupler and a first optical path capable of carrying optical signals from and to the optical coupler. The first optical path includes an optical amplifier that is arranged so that saturation of optical amplification causes amplitude modulation of the light. The optical amplifier has a saturation time that is shorter than a pulse transition period of the mode-locked laser and is arranged for recovery of amplifying properties after the saturation within a period of time that is shorter than the pulse transition period of the mode-locked laser. The laser further comprises a second optical path capable of carrying optical signals from and to the optical coupler. The second optical path includes an optical isolator. The first optical path has a non-linear property and is arranged so that, when a light pulse that is received from the second optical path is split by the optical coupler into component light pulses that are directed in opposite directions in the first optical path, the component light pulses experience differing shifts in phase and wh…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.