US3743962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin film ring lasers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1971-06-01
•
Granted: 1973-07-03
•
Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract There are disclosed lasers in which light-guiding thin films contain ring-like patterns for producing the positive feedback needed to sustain oscillation. The species include both optically pumped and electrically pumped lasers, as well as species employing the principle of Maxwell''s fisheye. Other species employ spiral or helical structures or closely coupled rings.
Inventors
- 👤 R Rosenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29346; G02B6/29349; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/124; G02B6/1245; G02B6/27; G02B6/2706; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/168; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/1071; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0608; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
Apparatus for the stimulated emission of coherent radiation, comprising a medium having a transition suitable for supplying said radiation, means for pumping said medium to invert the population of said transition, and means forming a continuouslycurved ring-like path and having at least one dimension of the order of a wavelength of said coherent radiation for continuously guiding radiation from said transition with respect to said one dimension and with respect to the curvature of said ring-like path to provide positive feedback around said path, thereby to stimulate the emission of said coherent radiation, said guiding means comprising a body of transparent material having two major surfaces and a distance therebetween of the order of a wavelength of said radiation, said body having a circularly symmetrical region of increased phase propagation constant in which said ring-like positive feedback occurs, said region including a plurality of circularly-symmetrical portions in each of which the phase propagation constant varies from a local minimum to a local maximum and then to another local minimum for positions of increasing radial distance within said region, and means for utilizing said radiation, said utilizing means including means for coupling radiation from said guiding means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
Apparatus for the stimulated emission of coherent radiation, comprising a medium having a transition suitable for supplying said radiation, means for pumping said medium to invert the population of said transition, and means forming a continuouslycurved ring-like path and having at least one dimension of the order of a wavelength of said coherent radiation for continuously guiding radiation from said transition with respect to said one dimension and with respect to the curvature of said ring-like path to provide positive feedback around said path, thereby to stimulate the emission of said coherent radiation, said guiding means comprising a body of transparent material having two major surfaces and a distance therebetween of the order of a wavelength of said radiation, said body having a circularly symmetrical region of increased phase propagation constant in which said ring-like positive feedback occurs, said region including a plurality of circularly-symmetrical portions in each of which the phase propagation constant varies from a local minimum to a local maximum and then to another local minimum for positions of increasing radial distance within said region, and means for utilizing said radiation, said utilizing means including means for coupling radiation from said guiding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for the stimulated emission of coherent radiation, comprising a medium having a transition suitable for supplying said radiation, means for pumping said medium to invert the population of said transition, and means forming a continuously-curved ring-like path and having at least one dimension of the order of a wavelength of said coherent radiation for continuously guiding radiation from said transition with respect to said one dimension and with respect to the curvature of said ring-like path to provide positive feedback around said path, thereby to stimulate the emission of said coherent radiation, the guiding means comprising a body of transparent material having two major surfaces each having a shape that is closed about a common direction, said surfaces having a distance therebetween of the order of a wavelength of said radiation, said body having a helical region of increased phase propagation constant, said helical region having a plurality of turns between which said ring-like positive feedback occurs by evanescent field coupling, and means for utilizing said radiation, said utilizing means including means for coupling radiation from said guiding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for the stimulated emission of coherent radiation, comprising a medium having a transition suitable for supplying said radiation, means for pumping said medium to invert the population of said transition, and means forming a continuously-curved ring-like path and having at least one dimension of the order of a wavelength of said coherent radiation for continuously guiding radiation from said transition with respect to said one dimension and with respect to the curvature of said ring-like path to provide positive feedback around said path, thereby to stimulate the emission of said coherent radiation, the guiding means comprising a body of transparent material having two major surfaces each having a shape that is closed about a common direction, said surfaces having a distance therebetween of the order of a wavelength of said radiation, said body having a helical region of increased phase propagation constant, said helical region having a plurality of turns between which said ring-like positive feedback occurs by evanescent field coupling, and means for utilizing said radiation, said utilizing means including means for coupling radiation from said guiding means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |