Resonant self-pulsing acousto-optical modulator

Claim 2

A self-resonant acousto-optical modulator system comprising: a first member of acousto-optical material having first and second opposed surfaces, a driving transducer on one of said surfaces, a receiving transducer on one of said surfaces, and an amplifying means having an input, and an output, said amplifying means being characterized by having a higher gain for larger amplitude signals than for smaller amplitude signals, and having its input connected to said receiving transducer and its output connected to said driving transducer.

Claim 3

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member of acousto-optical material is made of quartz.

Claim 4

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces of said first member of acousto-optical material are spherically-shaped surfaces.

Claim 5

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driving transducer is attached to a first one of said surfaces of said first member of acousto-optical material and said receiving transducer is attached to the other one of said surfaces of said first member of acousto-optical material.

Claim 6

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driving and receiving transducers comprise a single electrode attached to one of the said surfaces of said first member of acousto-optical material and which is divided into two portions, the first portion comprising the driving transducer and the second portion comprising the receiving transducer.

Claim 7

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driving and receiving transducers are made of X-cut crystal quartz.

Claim 8

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises: a first-stage Class A preamplifier with its input connected to the input of said amplifying means, a second-state amplifier with its input connected to the output of said Class A preamplifier and its output connected to the output of said amplifying means, and a biasing means connected to said second-stage amplifier which biases said second-stage amplifier.

Claim 9

A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said biasing means biases said second-stage amplifier to Class C operation, thereby creating a system capable of switching laser output.

Claim 10

A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said biasing means biases said second-stage amplifier to Class A operation, thereby creating a system capable of mode locking a laser.

Claim 11

A self-switching laser system comprising: an optical cavity resonator having two reflecting members located at opposite ends of said resonator, an active medium located in said resonator, means for exciting said active medium, a first acousto-optic modulator with two opposed surfaces located between said active medium and one of said reflection members and oriented at the Bragg angle with respect to the axis of said resonator, a first driving transducer on one of said surfaces of said first acousto-optic modulator, a first receiving transducer on one of said surfaces of said first acousto-optic modulator, and an amplifying means characterized by having a higher gain for larger amplitude signals than for smaller amplitude signals, and having its input connected to said first receiving transducer and its output connected to said first driving transducer, thereby generating acoustic pulses in said first modulator which switch light waves away from said resonator whenever said pulses intercept said light waves.

Claim 12

A self-switching laser system comprising: an optical cavity resonator having two reflecting members located at opposite ends of said resonator, an active medium located in said resonator, means for exciting said active medium, a first acousto-optic modulator with two opposed surfaces located between said active medium and one of said reflection members and oriented at the Bragg angle with respect to the axis of said resonator, a first driving transducer on one of said surfaces of said first acousto-optic modulator, a first receiving transducer on one of said surfaces of said first acousto-optic modulator, and an amplifying means characterized by having a higher gain for larger amplitude signals than for smaller amplitude signals, and having its input connected to said first receiving transducer and its output connected to said first driving transducer, thereby generating acoustic pulses in said first modulator which switch light waves away from said resonator whenever said pulses intercept said light waves.

Claim 13

A system as claimed in claim 10 further including a synchronizing input on said amplifying means which controls the operation of said amplifying means, a second acousto-optic modulator with two opposed surfaces located between said active medium and one of said reflection members and oriented at the Bragg angle with respect to the axis of said resonator, a second driving transducer on one of said surfaces of said second acousto-optic modulator, a second receiving transducer on of said surfaces of said second acousto-optic modulator, an amplifier with its input connected to said second receiving transducer and its outPut connected to said second driving transducer, a frequency dividing means with its input connected to the output of said narrow band amplifier, and a variable delay means with its input connected to the output of said frequency dividing means and its output connected to the synchronizing input of said amplifying means, thereby creating a single frequency acoustic wave in said second modulator which mode locks said laser switching system.

Claim 14

A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first and second acousto-optical modulators are part of a single member of acousto-optical material.