Athermally stable laser device

Claim 2

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first polarization component is radially polarized light.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second polarization component is tangentially polarized light.

Claim 5

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polArization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 59.33 K2O 27.23 CaO 8.11 Sb2O3 1.05 Nd2O3 2.43 SnO 1.95

Claim 6

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polArization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 59.33 K2O 27.23 CaO 8.11 Sb2O3 1.05 Nd2O3 2.43 SnO 1.95

Claim 7

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 41.56 Na2O 14.42 BaO 26.74 Sb2O3 0.85 Nd2O3 0.98 Nb2O3 15.45

Claim 8

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 41.56 Na2O 14.42 BaO 26.74 Sb2O3 0.85 Nd2O3 0.98 Nb2O3 15.45

Claim 9

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combined to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 46.37 K2O 25.39 CaO 7.64 ZnO 4.42 Al2O3 2.75 Sb3O3 1.11 TiO2 6.62 Nd2O3 5.67 Inert impurities .03

Claim 10

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combined to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 46.37 K2O 25.39 CaO 7.64 ZnO 4.42 Al2O3 2.75 Sb3O3 1.11 TiO2 6.62 Nd2O3 5.67 Inert impurities .03

Claim 11

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 41.95 Na2O 15.84 BaO 23.50 ZnO 4.12 Al2O3 3.91 Sb2O3 0.37 TiO2 5.11 Nd2O3 5.16 Inert impurities .04

Claim 12

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 41.95 Na2O 15.84 BaO 23.50 ZnO 4.12 Al2O3 3.91 Sb2O3 0.37 TiO2 5.11 Nd2O3 5.16 Inert impurities .04

Claim 13

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperaturE increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 40.93 K2O 22.41 CaO 18.51 ZnO 3.90 Al2O3 2.43 Sb2O3 0.98 TiO2 5.84 Nd2O3 5.00

Claim 14

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperaturE increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 40.93 K2O 22.41 CaO 18.51 ZnO 3.90 Al2O3 2.43 Sb2O3 0.98 TiO2 5.84 Nd2O3 5.00

Claim 15

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 42.01 K2O 23.10 CaO 18.81 ZnO 3.99 Al2O3 2.50 Sb2O3 2.68 TiO2 5.88 Nd2O3 1.03

Claim 16

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being positioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 42.01 K2O 23.10 CaO 18.81 ZnO 3.99 Al2O3 2.50 Sb2O3 2.68 TiO2 5.88 Nd2O3 1.03

Claim 17

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being pOsitioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 39.13 Rb2O 37.83 CaO 12.41 ZnO 3.30 Al2O3 2.06 Sb2O3 1.18 Nd2O3 4.09

Claim 18

A laser apparatus for generating laser light in two polarization components, a first polarization component and a second polarization component, the laser apparatus comprising pumping means, a glass laser rod and an optically regenerative laser cavity defined by a pair of reflectors, said glass laser rod being pOsitioned between said pair of reflectors in optical contact with said pumping means, said glass laser rod having a negative index of refraction for a temperature increase so that thermal gradient factors including the coefficient of linear expansion, the temperature coefficient of the index of refraction, Poisson''s ratio, and the stress-optical effects, algebraically tend to cancel each other out for light in the first polarization component so as to reduce the difference between the optical path length of the first polarization component in a ray through the center of said rod with the optical path length for the first polarization component in a ray passing along said rod near the periphery thereof when a temperature gradient caused by pumping said rod by said pumping means is present within said rod from its center to its periphery, said negative index of refraction of said glass laser rod also being of a value so that thermal gradient factors algebraically combine to render the optical path length greater at the periphery of said rod than at the center of said rod for light generated in the second polarization component, the laser rod being positioned within said laser cavity in relationship to said reflectors so that light in the first polarization component strikes the reflectors while light in the second polarization component misses said reflectors and passes from said laser cavity and wherein said glass rod is of approximately the following weight percent of constituents: SiO2 39.13 Rb2O 37.83 CaO 12.41 ZnO 3.30 Al2O3 2.06 Sb2O3 1.18 Nd2O3 4.09