US3743965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tunable lasers
Assignee: SPECTRO PHYSICS Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-12
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for obtaining laser action at a selected wavelength comprises a body such as a crystal composed of a substance that may be optically pumped in accordance with known laser principles. A glow discharge tube serves as a source of input radiation energy for the optical pumping and excites energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths. An optical path for the crystal is provided and includes a pair of reflective surfaces between which the crystal and a prism are located, one of the reflective surfaces being constituted by a reflective coating on a face thereof at the side of the prism remote from the crystal. The prism is made from a material whose index of refraction varies with a variation in the wavelength of the radiation produced by the crystal and is mounted for adjusting its orientation such that only the radiation at the selected wavelength is repetitively reflected back and forth between the reflective surfaces, and radiations at all other wavelengths are lost from the path by dispersion in the prism.
Inventors
- 👤 F Offner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/102; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08004; H01S3/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination, a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said material to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of different wavelengths, means establishing an optical path repetitive for only a selected one of said wavelengths, said optical path extending through said body and through a prismatic Dispersing element which produces an angular difference in the optical path of radiation traversing said element, said angular difference being dependent upon and variable with the wavelength of the radiation, and said optical path further including at least two reflective surfaces between which said body and prismatic dispersing element are located, said reflective surfaces being adjustable such that the radiation repetitively traverses said body and prismatic dispersive element at only the selected wavelength.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination, a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said material to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of different wavelengths, means establishing an optical path repetitive for only a selected one of said wavelengths, said optical path extending through said body and through a prismatic Dispersing element which produces an angular difference in the optical path of radiation traversing said element, said angular difference being dependent upon and variable with the wavelength of the radiation, and said optical path further including at least two reflective surfaces between which said body and prismatic dispersing element are located, said reflective surfaces being adjustable such that the radiation repetitively traverses said body and prismatic dispersive element at only the selected wavelength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tunable laser as defined in claim 1 and which further includes a controllable electrostatic field within the influence of which said body is placed for modifying the wavelength of the radiation emitted from said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tunable laser as defined in claim 1 and which further includes a controllable magnetic field within the influence of which said body is placed for modifying the wavelength of the radiation emitted from said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means establishing a reflecting surface normal to the optical path of said body and reflecting radiation emitted by said material back along said optical path, means for pumping energy into said material to excite energy levels from which radiation at a plurality of wavelengths is emitted, a prism having its frontal face positioned to receive radiation passing said optical path and having its rear face at least partially covered with a reflective coating, said prism being made of a material establishing therefor an index of refraction which varies as a function of the wavelength of said radiation and means for adjusting the orientation of said prism such that only one selected wavelength from said plurality of wavelengths impinges perpendicularly on said rear face and is thereby effective to produce multiple reflections of said selected wavelength along a substantially repetitive path between said reflective surface and reflective coating while all other wavelengths which impinge upon said rear face in a non-perpendicular direction are dispersed in said prism and removed from said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
188 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means establishing a reflecting surface normal to the optical path of said body and reflecting radiation emitted by said material back along said optical path, means for pumping energy into said material to excite energy levels from which radiation at a plurality of wavelengths is emitted, a prism having its frontal face positioned to receive radiation passing said optical path and having its rear face at least partially covered with a reflective coating, said prism being made of a material establishing therefor an index of refraction which varies as a function of the wavelength of said radiation and means for adjusting the orientation of said prism such that only one selected wavelength from said plurality of wavelengths impinges perpendicularly on said rear face and is thereby effective to produce multiple reflections of said selected wavelength along a substantially repetitive path between said reflective surface and reflective coating while all other wavelengths which impinge upon said rear face in a non-perpendicular direction are dispersed in said prism and removed from said path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said body to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths, means establishing an optical path through said body for repetitive passage of radiation therethrough at a selected wavelength, said optical path including a pair of reflective surfaces between which said body and a refractive dispersive element are located, said dispersive element being constituted by a prism having a reflecting coating on one of the faces thereof which constitutes one of said reflective surfaces and being made from a material whose refractive index varies with a variation in wavelength, and means for adjusting the orientation of said prism and hence the orientation of said reflective coating with respect to said optical path thereby to eliminate from said path by dispersion in said prism repetitive reflection of all radiation except that at said selected wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said body to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths, means establishing an optical path through said body for repetitive passage of radiation therethrough at a selected wavelength, said optical path including a pair of reflective surfaces between which said body and a refractive dispersive element are located, said dispersive element being constituted by a prism having a reflecting coating on one of the faces thereof which constitutes one of said reflective surfaces and being made from a material whose refractive index varies with a variation in wavelength, and means for adjusting the orientation of said prism and hence the orientation of said reflective coating with respect to said optical path thereby to eliminate from said path by dispersion in said prism repetitive reflection of all radiation except that at said selected wavelength.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said body to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths, means establishing an optical path through said body for repetitive passage of radiation therethrough at a selected wavelength, said optical path including a pair of reflective surfaces between which said body and a refractive dispersive element are located, said dispersive element being constituted by a prism and which is made from a material whose refractive index varies with a variation in wavelength, and means for adjusting the orientation of that reflective surface in said path which is located at the side of said prism away from said body thereby to eliminate from said path by diSpersion in said prism repetitive reflection of all radiation except that at the selected wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
148 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said body to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths, means establishing an optical path through said body for repetitive passage of radiation therethrough at a selected wavelength, said optical path including a pair of reflective surfaces between which said body and a refractive dispersive element are located, said dispersive element being constituted by a prism and which is made from a material whose refractive index varies with a variation in wavelength, and means for adjusting the orientation of that reflective surface in said path which is located at the side of said prism away from said body thereby to eliminate from said path by diSpersion in said prism repetitive reflection of all radiation except that at the selected wavelength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said body to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths, means establishing an optical path through said body for repetitive passage of radiation therethrough at a selected wavelength, said optical path including a pair of reflective surfaces between which said body and a refractive dispersive element are located, said dispersive element being constituted by a prism and which is made from a material whose refractive index varies with a variation in wavelength, and means for adjusting the relative orientation of said prism and reflective surfaces to eliminate from said path by dispersion in said prism repetitive reflection of all radiation except that at the selected wavelength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tunable laser comprising in combination a body of material having energy levels suitable for laser action, means for pumping energy into said body to excite energy levels from which radiation is emitted at a plurality of wavelengths, means establishing an optical path through said body for repetitive passage of radiation therethrough at a selected wavelength, said optical path including a pair of reflective surfaces between which said body and a refractive dispersive element are located, said dispersive element being constituted by a prism and which is made from a material whose refractive index varies with a variation in wavelength, and means for adjusting the relative orientation of said prism and reflective surfaces to eliminate from said path by dispersion in said prism repetitive reflection of all radiation except that at the selected wavelength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical maser comprising an elongated negative temperature medium, means for applying excitation energy to said medium for establishing a population inversion therein, an elongated optical interferometer cavity comprising first and second external reflective end members, said negative temperature medium being disposed within said cavity in the path of light rays reflected between said end members, at least one of said members comprising a dielectric prism having a first surface at which said rays are refracted and a second surface at which said rays are reflected, said second surface being disposed orthogonally with respect to incident rays of the desired output frequency, and means for abstracting at least a portion of said rays at said desired frequency for utilization.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical maser comprising an elongated negative temperature medium, means for applying excitation energy to said medium for establishing a population inversion therein, an elongated optical interferometer cavity comprising first and second external reflective end members, said negative temperature medium being disposed within said cavity in the path of light rays reflected between said end members, at least one of said members comprising a dielectric prism having a first surface at which said rays are refracted and a second surface at which said rays are reflected, said second surface being disposed orthogonally with respect to incident rays of the desired output frequency, and means for abstracting at least a portion of said rays at said desired frequency for utilization.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of selecting the operating frequency of an optical maser having an active medium which emits radiation at more than one wavelength capable of maser operation, which comprises the steps of: spatially dispersing said radiation by an amount which depends on the radiation wavelength; and selectively reflecting optical radiation at the desired wavelength through said active medium a sufficient number of times to sustain maser operation.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of selecting the operating frequency of an optical maser having an active medium which emits radiation at more than one wavelength capable of maser operation, which comprises the steps of: spatially dispersing said radiation by an amount which depends on the radiation wavelength; and selectively reflecting optical radiation at the desired wavelength through said active medium a sufficient number of times to sustain maser operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said optical radiation is reflected between two reflecting surfaces, and including the step of adjusting the relative angular orientation of said surfaces to that position at which radiation of the selected wavelength undergoes multiple reflections between said surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
An optical maser comprising: an active medium which emits radiation at more than one wavelength capable of maser operation; means for spatially dispersing said radiation by an amount which depends on the radiation wavelength; and means for selectively reflecting optical radiation at the desired operating wavelength through said active medium a sufficient number of times to sustain maser operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
An optical maser comprising: an active medium which emits radiation at more than one wavelength capable of maser operation; means for spatially dispersing said radiation by an amount which depends on the radiation wavelength; and means for selectively reflecting optical radiation at the desired operating wavelength through said active medium a sufficient number of times to sustain maser operation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical maser according to claim 11 wherein said dispersing means is a diffraction grating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical maser according to claim 11 wherein said dispersing means is a prism.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical maser according to claim 13 wherein said reflecting means includes two mirrors and said prism is interposed between said mirrors so that said mirrors are selectively optically aligned at said desired wavelength.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
An optical maser according to claim 11 wherein said reflecting means includes two reflecting surfaces optically communicating through said active medium, and further including means varying the relative angular orientation of said surfaces for changing the operating frequency from one wavelength to at least one other near-by wavelength.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical maser according to claim 14 wherein said active medium is in a gaseous state and contained within a tubular container, said mirrors are positioned external of said medium and adjacent each end of said container, and said prism is interposed between said container and one of said mirrors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
A visIble output optical maser, comprising: an active medium which emits radiation at more than one wavelength capable of maser operation, at least one of said wavelengths being a desired visible wavelength; means for spatially dispersing said radiation by an amount which depends on the radiation wavelength; and means for selectively reflecting radiation at said desired visible wavelength through said medium a sufficient number of times to sustain maser operation at said desired wavelength.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
74 words
A visIble output optical maser, comprising: an active medium which emits radiation at more than one wavelength capable of maser operation, at least one of said wavelengths being a desired visible wavelength; means for spatially dispersing said radiation by an amount which depends on the radiation wavelength; and means for selectively reflecting radiation at said desired visible wavelength through said medium a sufficient number of times to sustain maser operation at said desired wavelength.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical maser, comprising: an active medium which emits optical radiation at at least two wavelengths with stimulated emission gain, each of said wavelengths resulting from a different energy level transition of said active medium; means for reflecting optical radiation emitted by said active medium back through said active medium; and means for spatially separating the optical radiation at each of said wavelengths by a sufficient amount that said reflecting means reflects only the radiation at one of said two wavelengths in the proper direction for sustaining maser operation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical maser, comprising: an active medium which emits optical radiation at at least two wavelengths with stimulated emission gain, each of said wavelengths resulting from a different energy level transition of said active medium; means for reflecting optical radiation emitted by said active medium back through said active medium; and means for spatially separating the optical radiation at each of said wavelengths by a sufficient amount that said reflecting means reflects only the radiation at one of said two wavelengths in the proper direction for sustaining maser operation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
102 words
An optical maser, comprising: an active medium which emits optical radiation at at least two wavelengths with stimulated emission gain; means for reflecting optical radiation emitted by said active medium back through said active medium; and dispersive means which angularly deflects optical radiation through an angle which varies continuously as a function of wavelength in the wavelength range between each of said two wavelengths with the difference in angle between the radiation at each of said wavelengths being sufficiently large that said reflecting means reflects only the radiation at one of said two wavelengths in the proper direction for sustaining maser action.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
102 words
An optical maser, comprising: an active medium which emits optical radiation at at least two wavelengths with stimulated emission gain; means for reflecting optical radiation emitted by said active medium back through said active medium; and dispersive means which angularly deflects optical radiation through an angle which varies continuously as a function of wavelength in the wavelength range between each of said two wavelengths with the difference in angle between the radiation at each of said wavelengths being sufficiently large that said reflecting means reflects only the radiation at one of said two wavelengths in the proper direction for sustaining maser action.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical maser according to claim 19 wherein said active medium is a gaseous active medium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical maser according to claim 19 wherein said dispersive means is a diffraction grating.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical maser according to claim 19 wherein said dispersive means is a prism.
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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) | 1976-07-02 | 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 |