US3575670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for synchronously mode locking a plurality of lasers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1968-12-27
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-12-27
Abstract
Abstract The longitudinal modes of a plurality of lasers are synchronously mode locked by means of an intracavity mode-locking device (e.g., a phase modulator, an acoustically excited mechanism, or a bleachable dye) common to the cavity resonator of each of the lasers, the lengths of each of the resonators being an integral multiple of each other. If, in addition, the resonators are designed such that the longitudinal modeseparation frequency is an integral multiple of the transverse mode separation frequency, both the transverse and longitudinal modes will synchronously and simultaneously phase lock, producing in each resonator a pulse which traverses a zigzag path bouncing back and forth between the resonator reflectors.
Inventors
- 👤 John W Hansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1109; H01S3/106; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; H01S3/1068; H01S3/107; H01S3/1112; H01S3/1115; H01S3/13; H01S3/136
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for synchronously mode locking a plurality of lasers each of which oscillates in a plurality of longitudinal modes comprising a first laser having an optical cavity resonator, at least one other laser having an optical cavity resonator of length substantially equal to an integral multiple of the length of said resonator of said first laser, and means located within said resonator of said first laser for mode locking said first laser, said means being common to all of said resonators of said other lasers, thereby to synchronously mode lock all of said other lasers to said first laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for synchronously mode locking a plurality of lasers each of which oscillates in a plurality of longitudinal modes comprising a first laser having an optical cavity resonator, at least one other laser having an optical cavity resonator of length substantially equal to an integral multiple of the length of said resonator of said first laser, and means located within said resonator of said first laser for mode locking said first laser, said means being common to all of said resonators of said other lasers, thereby to synchronously mode lock all of said other lasers to said first laser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lasers are solid state lasers and said mode-locking means comprises a bleachable dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deviation from integral multiple of the lengths of said resonators is less than that difference which would time shift the pulses of any one of said lasers by more than the width of said pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lasers are gas lasers and said mode-locking means comprises a phase-modulator driven at the longitudinal mode-separation frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said phase modulator comprises an electro-optic crystal and wherein the propagation vectors of each of the beams of said lasers lie on a cone, the axis of which is coincident with the optic axis of said crystal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mode-locking means comprises an acoustic modulator driven at the longitudinal mode-separation frequency for creating a standing wave of index of refraction in the intracavity path normal to the beams of each of said lasers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said lasers also oscillates in a plurality of transverse modes and wherein each of said resonatOrs is designed such that the longitudinal mode-separation frequency fL is an integral multiple M of the transverse mode-separation frequency fT.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of the resonators is formed by a pair of reflectors of radii R1 and R2, is of length L and satisfies the following relationship where g1 1- L/R1 and g2 1- L/R2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lasers are gas lasers and said mode-locking means comprises a phase-modulator driven at the transverse mode-separation frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said phase-modulator comprises an electro-optic crystal, and wherein the propagation vectors of each of the beams of said lasers be on a cone, the axis of which is coincident with the optic axis of said crystal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mode-locking means comprises an acoustic modulator driven at the transverse mode-separation frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mode-locking means comprises a bleachable dye.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3414840A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |