US3602724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical nonlinear devices
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1964-03-27
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1984-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A group of devics are set forth that individually employ a transparent nonlinear dielectric element, such as a piezoelectric crystal, in the cavity of a laser. The crystal serves to generate harmonics of the frequency generated by the laser. The light energy whose frequency is to be converted is retained in the laser cavity and the electric field within the cavity builds up to high values. The conversion efficiency is high because the harmonic electric field is proportional to the square of the fundamental electric field.
Inventors
- 👤 Archibald W Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0615; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109; H01S3/0627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A laser harmonic generator comprising an active laser element, means for exciting the said active laser element, two reflectors located one each side of the said active laser element for providing cumulative reflections of radiation at a fundamental frequency of the active laser element and a crystal having nonlinear dielectric properties located in the path of the said cumulative reflections between the said active laser element and one of the said reflectors and having its crystalline axes at a critical orientation relative to the path through the crystal of the said cumulative reflections so that the phase velocity within the crystal in the direction of the said path of the said radiation at the fundamental frequency is substantially the same as the phase velocity within the crystal in the direction of the said path of a chosen harmonic of the said fundamental frequency, and wherein both of the said reflectors are substantially totally reflecting at the said fundamental frequency, and wherein at least one of the said reflectors is translucent to the said chosen harmonic of the fundamental frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A laser harmonic generator comprising an active laser element, means for exciting the said active laser element, two reflectors located one each side of the said active laser element for providing cumulative reflections of radiation at a fundamental frequency of the active laser element and a crystal having nonlinear dielectric properties located in the path of the said cumulative reflections between the said active laser element and one of the said reflectors and having its crystalline axes at a critical orientation relative to the path through the crystal of the said cumulative reflections so that the phase velocity within the crystal in the direction of the said path of the said radiation at the fundamental frequency is substantially the same as the phase velocity within the crystal in the direction of the said path of a chosen harmonic of the said fundamental frequency, and wherein both of the said reflectors are substantially totally reflecting at the said fundamental frequency, and wherein at least one of the said reflectors is translucent to the said chosen harmonic of the fundamental frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The harmonic generator of claim 1, wherein said crystal is potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The harmonic generator of claim 1 wherein a lens system is located between said active laser element and said crystal, said lens system including a pair of lenses spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of their focal lengths, and a mask having an aperture therein disposed at the focal length of one of said lens.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
71 words
A system comprising: a. a laser rod in an optical cavity, b. means for exciting said rod to produce a fundamental coherent optical wave, c. a nonlinear piezoelectric element disposed within said cavity and affixed to said rod for producing a harmonic wave of said fundamental wave, said piezoelectric element being transparent to both the fundamental and said harmonic wave and d. means for extracting said harmonic wave from said cavity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
71 words
A system comprising: a. a laser rod in an optical cavity, b. means for exciting said rod to produce a fundamental coherent optical wave, c. a nonlinear piezoelectric element disposed within said cavity and affixed to said rod for producing a harmonic wave of said fundamental wave, said piezoelectric element being transparent to both the fundamental and said harmonic wave and d. means for extracting said harmonic wave from said cavity.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
73 words
A system comprising: a. an injection laser for producing a given coherent optical wave and having a cavity resonant to said given wave, b. a nonlinear dielectric element disposed within said cavity so as to produce therein a harmonic wave of said given wave, c. means for providing a second cavity resonant to said harmonic wave embracing said nonlinear dielectric element and d. means for extracting said harmonic wave from said second cavity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
73 words
A system comprising: a. an injection laser for producing a given coherent optical wave and having a cavity resonant to said given wave, b. a nonlinear dielectric element disposed within said cavity so as to produce therein a harmonic wave of said given wave, c. means for providing a second cavity resonant to said harmonic wave embracing said nonlinear dielectric element and d. means for extracting said harmonic wave from said second cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |