Patent US3757249A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3757249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Q switched mode locked laser oscillator
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
•
Filing: 1972-02-15
•
Granted: 1973-09-04
•
Expires: 1992-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A laser oscillator for producing relatively long duration, Qswitched or Q-switched and mode-locked bandwidth-limited pulses. The oscillator is self-driven, wherein a large optical noise pulse of controllable duration is allowed to buildup by means of controlled bandwidth feedback. Combined with a synchronized pulse-switching means external to the oscillator cavity, a bandwidth-limited ''''tunable'''' pulse duration is achievable ranging from about 0.25 nsec to greater than 100 nsecs. An embodiment of the oscillator includes a gain medium, a Pockel cell, a quarterwave plate, and a polarizer, all within an optical cavity defined by two multiple-face resonant-reflecting etalons, the optical cavity being switched by shorting a biasing potential across the Pockel cell from its halfwave retardation value to ground.
Inventors
- 👤 B Johnson
- 👤 R Carman
- 👤 L Steinmetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/0327; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A laser oscillator for producing Q-switched or Q-switched and mode-locked bandwidth-limited pulses comprising: an optical cavity defined by a pair of spaced frequency selecting reflective means, gain medium located within said optical cavity, means for pumping said gain medium, polarizing means located within said cavity intermediate said gain medium and one of said reflective means, quarterwave plate means located within said cavity intermediate said polarizing means and said one of said reflective means, and Pockel cell means positioned within said cavity intermediate said quarterwave plate means and said one of said reflective means; means for impressing a biasing electrical potential across said Pockel cell means; and switching means for shorting the Pockel cell means biasing potential to ground; whereby a large amplitude light noise pulse having a spatial extent less than the length of said optical cavity and an envelope symmetric about its intensity maximum is initiated in the cavity as said biasing potential is shorted to ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A laser oscillator for producing Q-switched or Q-switched and mode-locked bandwidth-limited pulses comprising: an optical cavity defined by a pair of spaced frequency selecting reflective means, gain medium located within said optical cavity, means for pumping said gain medium, polarizing means located within said cavity intermediate said gain medium and one of said reflective means, quarterwave plate means located within said cavity intermediate said polarizing means and said one of said reflective means, and Pockel cell means positioned within said cavity intermediate said quarterwave plate means and said one of said reflective means; means for impressing a biasing electrical potential across said Pockel cell means; and switching means for shorting the Pockel cell means biasing potential to ground; whereby a large amplitude light noise pulse having a spatial extent less than the length of said optical cavity and an envelope symmetric about its intensity maximum is initiated in the cavity as said biasing potential is shorted to ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of frequency selecting reflective means is a multiple-face, resonantly reflecting etalon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, additionally including a dye cell means positioned intermediate said gain medium and the other of said pair of spaced frequency selecting reflective means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein said polarizing means comprises a polarizing prism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises a spark gap switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein said gain medium is selected from the group consisting of ruby, neodymium: YAG, neodymium: glass, CO2 and organic dye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of spaced frequency selecting reflective means comprises a multi-face, resonantly reflecting etalon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, additionally including a pulse-switching means located externally of said optical cavity and aligned with an optical axis of said optical cavity for selecting and controlling the duration of an output pulse therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The oscillator defined in claim 8, wherein said pulse-switching means comprises A plurality of Pockel cells positioned intermediate a pair of polarizing prisms, each of said Pockel cells being connected to means for impressing a biasing electrical potential thereacross through a variable length delay line means, and a high voltage spark gap switch means being connected intermediate said Pockel cells and said delay line means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |