US3815046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Synchronously driven q-switched or q-switched-mode-locked laser oscillator
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1973-02-07
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A laser oscillator for producing relatively long duration Qswitched or Q-switched/mode-locked bandwidth-limited pulses. The oscillator is self-driven and then synchronously gated at the cavity round trip time, whereby a large pulse of noise light of controllable duration is allowed to build-up by means of controlled bandwidth feedback. The oscillator is an improvement over that described and claimed in copending U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 226,471, filed Feb. 15, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,249, and assigned to the same assignee. A factor of ten or more improvement in energy per pulse has been achieved while preserving both the desired bandwidth limited character of the pulses and the range of realizable pulse-widths provided by the oscillator of the above-mentioned application.
Inventors
- 👤 B Johnson
- 👤 L Steinmetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A laser oscillator for producing relatively long duration Qswitched or Q-switched/mode-locked bandwidth-limited pulses comprising: an optical cavity defined by a pair of spaced reflective means, gain medium located within said optical cavity for producing a light pulse, polarizing means located within said cavity intermediate said gain medium and one of said reflective means for polarizing said light pulse produced from said gain medium, and Pockel cell means positioned within said cavity intermediate said polarizing means and said one of said reflective means; means for applying an alternating voltage across said Pockel cell means; and means for switching through zero the voltage applied across said Pockel cell means reducing same to approximately zero voltage thereacross at a repetitive rate, whereby a large amplitude light noise pulse is oscillated in said optical cavity as said applied voltage crosses zero at a repetitive rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A laser oscillator for producing relatively long duration Qswitched or Q-switched/mode-locked bandwidth-limited pulses comprising: an optical cavity defined by a pair of spaced reflective means, gain medium located within said optical cavity for producing a light pulse, polarizing means located within said cavity intermediate said gain medium and one of said reflective means for polarizing said light pulse produced from said gain medium, and Pockel cell means positioned within said cavity intermediate said polarizing means and said one of said reflective means; means for applying an alternating voltage across said Pockel cell means; and means for switching through zero the voltage applied across said Pockel cell means reducing same to approximately zero voltage thereacross at a repetitive rate, whereby a large amplitude light noise pulse is oscillated in said optical cavity as said applied voltage crosses zero at a repetitive rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein said voltage applying means includes a transmission line means for providing an alternating voltage to said Pockel cell means, a power supply connected to said transmission line means, and voltage shorting means operatively connected to said transmission line means for selectively short circuiting said transmission line means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The oscillator defined in claim 2, wherein said voltage shorting means includes a spark gap switch means operatively connected to said transmission line means, and triggering electrode means operatively connected to said spark gap switch means to trigger same upon an appropriate signal applied to said triggering electrode means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The oscillator defined in claim 2, additionally including a resistor means positioned intermediate said power supply and said transmission line means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The oscillator defined in claim 1, wherein said voltage shorting means comprises a triggered spark gas switch and means for triggering said switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3571744A
Cited
US3521069A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |