US3725810A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical stimulated emission devices employing split optical guides
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-23
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-04-23
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a coherent optical device in which the stimulated emission of coherent radiation is achieved by monochromatic light launched into a split guiding structure which includes a fluid active medium. Typically, the active fluid flows transverse to the axis of the guiding structure through split solid members thereof spaced apart in the order of a wavelength of the light. In one embodiment of the invention, the solid members have guiding regions with higher indices of refraction than the fluid active medium. The monochromatic light propagates in and along these regions; and its fringing field pumps the fluid. In a second embodiment, the solid members have lower indices of refraction than the fluid active medium. The monochromatic light is then concentrated in a region of the fluid. The disclosed devices include stimulated Raman-emission devices and dye lasers.
Inventors
- 👤 A Ashkin
- 👤 E Ippen
- 👤 R Kompfner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/022; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094034; H01S3/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A device of the type in which a fluid active medium is included in a guiding structure coupled to means for launching monochromatic radiant energy into said structure to produce the stimulated emission of radiation in said medium and including means for stimulating the coherent radiation, characterized in that the guiding structure is a split guiding structure including two spaced solid members disposed in contact with and coupled to a limited region of said fluid medium in the separation therebetween, said separation being of the order of the wavelength of said monochromatic radiant energy, at least one of said solid members including a region adapted for facilitating guiding of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation, and the launching means launches into said guiding region the monochromatic radiant energy at a power level for which gain exceeds losses in said limited region of said fluid medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A device of the type in which a fluid active medium is included in a guiding structure coupled to means for launching monochromatic radiant energy into said structure to produce the stimulated emission of radiation in said medium and including means for stimulating the coherent radiation, characterized in that the guiding structure is a split guiding structure including two spaced solid members disposed in contact with and coupled to a limited region of said fluid medium in the separation therebetween, said separation being of the order of the wavelength of said monochromatic radiant energy, at least one of said solid members including a region adapted for facilitating guiding of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation, and the launching means launches into said guiding region the monochromatic radiant energy at a power level for which gain exceeds losses in said limited region of said fluid medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device of the type claimed in claim 1, in which the active medium is a Raman-active medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device of the type claimed in claim 1, in which the active medium is a dye laser active medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
186 words
An optical apparatus for the stimulated emission of radiation, comprising a liquid active medium both providing gain at a first frequency and undergoing damage when subjected to an optical pumping radiation at a second frequency, a split guiding structure including two spaced optically transparent solid members disposed in contact with and coupled to a limited region of said liquid medium in the separation therebetween, said separation being of the order of the wavelength of said pumping radiation, at least one of said solid members including a region adapted for guiding of radiation at said first frequency and said pumping radiation, means for storing a substantial quantity of said liquid medium in a position facilitating flow through said separation transverse to the long axis of said guiding region, means for flowing said liquid medium from said storing means to contact said guiding region, and means for stimulating the coherent emission of said radiation at said first frequency in said limited region of said liquid medium, whereby the flow of said liquid medium removes the effect of the damage occurring in said liquid medium in said limited region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
186 words
An optical apparatus for the stimulated emission of radiation, comprising a liquid active medium both providing gain at a first frequency and undergoing damage when subjected to an optical pumping radiation at a second frequency, a split guiding structure including two spaced optically transparent solid members disposed in contact with and coupled to a limited region of said liquid medium in the separation therebetween, said separation being of the order of the wavelength of said pumping radiation, at least one of said solid members including a region adapted for guiding of radiation at said first frequency and said pumping radiation, means for storing a substantial quantity of said liquid medium in a position facilitating flow through said separation transverse to the long axis of said guiding region, means for flowing said liquid medium from said storing means to contact said guiding region, and means for stimulating the coherent emission of said radiation at said first frequency in said limited region of said liquid medium, whereby the flow of said liquid medium removes the effect of the damage occurring in said liquid medium in said limited region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical apparatUs according to claim 4 in which the separation between said solid members is in the range from about 0.10 to 10.0 times the wavelength of said pumping radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 5 in which the solid members, the guiding region and the liquid medium differ in index of refraction by an amount insuring that a substantial portion of the pumping radiation propagates in the liquid medium between the spaced solid members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 6 in which said guiding region is an optically transparent region of one of said solid members having a higher refractive index than said liquid medium and the remainder of said solid member and having a dimension in which the guiding is to take place comparable to the wavelengths of said radiation to be guided therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 6 in which said guiding region is a groove in one of said solid members filled with said liquid medium, said solid member having a lower refractive index than said liquid medium and said groove having a dimension in which the guiding is to take place comparable to the wavelengths of said radiation to be guided therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 6 in which said guiding region is an optically transparent region of one of said solid members having a lower refractive index than said liquid medium and a higher refractive index than the remainder of said solid member and having a dimension in which the guiding is to take place comparable to the wavelengths of said radiation to be guided therein.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
170 words
A device of the type in which an active medium is included in a guiding structure coupled to means for launching monochromatic radiant energy into said structure to produce the stimulated emission of radiation in said medium, characterized in that the guiding structure is a split guiding structure including two spaced optically transparent solid members disposed in contact with and coupled to a limited region of said active medium in the separation therebetween, said separation being of the order of the wavelength of said monochromatic radiant energy, at least one of said solid members including a region adapted for guiding of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation, said device further including means for storing a substantial quantity of said medium in a position facilitating flow through said separation transverse to the long axis of said guiding region, and means for flowing said medium from said storing means to contact said guiding region, whereby said flow maintains a desired optical quality of the liquid medium in said limited region.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
170 words
A device of the type in which an active medium is included in a guiding structure coupled to means for launching monochromatic radiant energy into said structure to produce the stimulated emission of radiation in said medium, characterized in that the guiding structure is a split guiding structure including two spaced optically transparent solid members disposed in contact with and coupled to a limited region of said active medium in the separation therebetween, said separation being of the order of the wavelength of said monochromatic radiant energy, at least one of said solid members including a region adapted for guiding of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation, said device further including means for storing a substantial quantity of said medium in a position facilitating flow through said separation transverse to the long axis of said guiding region, and means for flowing said medium from said storing means to contact said guiding region, whereby said flow maintains a desired optical quality of the liquid medium in said limited region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device for the type claimed in claim 10, in which the separation between said solid members is in the range from about 0.10 to 10.0 times the wavelength of said monochromatic radiant energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device of the type claimed in claim 11 in which the solid members, the guiding region and the liquid medium differ in index of refraction by an amount insuring that a substantial portion of the pumping radiation propagates in said active medium between the spaced solid members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device of the type claimed in claim 12 in which said guiding region is an optically transparent region of one of said solid members having a higher refractive index than said active medium and the remainder of said solid member and having a dimension in which the guiding is to take place comparable to the wavelengths of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation to be guided therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device of the type claimed in claim 12 in which said guiding region is a groove in one of said solid members filled with said active medium, said solid member having a lower refractive index than said active medium and said groove having a dimension in which the guiding is to take place comparable to the wavelengths of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation to be guided therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device of the type Claimed in claim 12 in which said guiding region is an optically transparent region of one of said solid members having a lower refractive index than said active medium and a higher refractive index than the remainder of said solid member and having a dimension in which the guiding is to take place comparable to the wavelengths of said monochromatic radiant energy and said stimulated radiation to be guided therein.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |