Hybrid laser amplifier system including active taper
US8873134B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/03
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Hybrid laser systems include fiber amplifiers using tapered waveguides and solid-state amplifiers. Typically, such systems represent a technically simple and low cost approach to high peak power pulsed laser systems. The tapered waveguides generally are provided with an active dopant such as a rare earth element that is pumped with one or more semiconductor lasers. The active waveguide taper is selected to taper from a single or few mode section to a multimode section. A seed beam in a fundamental mode is provided to a section of the waveguide taper associated with a smaller optical mode, and an amplified beam exits the waveguide taper at a section associated with a larger optical mode. The waveguide taper permits amplification to higher peak power values than comparable small mode area fibers. The fiber amplified beam is then directed to a solid state amplifier, such as a thin disk or rod-type laser amplifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.