US3763443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simultaneously q-switched and mode-locked laser
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-14
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract Although simultaneous Q-switching and mode-locking apparently cannot be achieved in a neodymium ion laser employing an yttrium aluminum garnet host by the conventional use of a dye cell, there is disclosed such a laser in which the desired result has been achieved by internally modulating the laser with an FM signal, the center frequency of which is detuned from the mode-locking frequency and the total depth of frequency modulation of which is sufficient to sweep the laser into a quenching condition at a limit of the frequency range. This technique avoids the losses and complications that would be incurred if separate intracavity modulators were used for Q-switching and mode-locking.
Inventors
- 👤 T Kinsel
- 👤 R Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1109; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115; H01S3/106; H01S3/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A laser according to claim 1 in which the active medium together with the resonator characteristically has a mode-locked region extending to frequencies substantially above and below the c/2L mode-locking frequency, where c is the speed of light, and 2L is the optical round-trip length of the resonator through the medium, a quenched region extending in frequency substantially beyond both limits of the mode-locked region, and a frequency-modulated region in which all modes are frequency-modulated extending in frequency substantially beyond the highest and lowest frequency limits of the quenched region, the source of the FM signal supplying an FM signal having a frequency range extending from the one limit in the quenched region to the other limit in the mode-locked region at a frequency deviating from the mode-locking frequency in the same sense as the center frequency and the frequency of the one limit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser according to claim 2 in which the active medium comprises an yttrium aluminum garnet host containing neodymium active ions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser according to claim 3 in which the modulator comprises an optical phase modulator, the peak-to-peak frequency range of the FM signal supplied from the signal source being less than about 3 kHz but more than about 1 kHz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser according to claim 3 in which the modulator comprises an optical phase modulator, the repetition rate of the frequency variation supplied from the signal source being less than about 90 kHz, whereby Q-switching occurs at said repetition rate.
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) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |