Gain control for arbitrary triggering of short pulse lasers
US9570877B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2015 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/2375
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device may include a transient optical amplifier having stored energy associated with a lower boundary and an upper boundary of a dynamic equilibrium, and a target level defining stored energy for amplifying a high energy input pulse to a higher energy output pulse. The device may include a pump to increase the amplifier's stored energy, and a source to pass low energy control pulses or the high energy input pulse to the amplifier. The device may include a controller configured to maintain the amplifier's stored energy in the dynamic equilibrium by requesting low energy control pulses for the amplifier at a high repetition frequency. The controller may wait to receive a trigger. Based on receiving the trigger, the device may stop passing low energy control pulses to the amplifier, and may pass the high energy input pulse to the amplifier when the amplifier's stored energy reaches the target level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.