US3866141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped, laser system
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1973-12-21
•
Granted: 1975-02-11
•
Expires: 1993-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped laser system having a modelocked laser cavity in which the rear mirror thereof is replaced by a Michelson interferometer. A pulsed phase shifter with ends cut at Brewster''s angle is placed in one arm of the interferometer. When a 90* phase shift is abruptly applied to the one interferometer arm after the mode-locked pulse has reached peak intensity, the pulse will be dumped from the laser cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 David Milam
- 👤 Audun Hordvik
- 👤 Rudolph A Bradbury
- 👤 Howard R Schlossberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1109; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/082; H01S3/106; H01S3/107; H01S3/1103; H01S3/1123; H01S3/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses comprising a laser medium, a reflective surface located adjacent one end of said laser medium and located along a common optical axis with said laser medium, a Michelson interferometer located adjacent the other end of said laser medium and in optical alignment with said reflective surface, said Michelson interferometer having a beam splitter, a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, both said surfaces being substantially totally reflective, and a means interposed between said beam splitter and one of said substantially totally reflective surfaces for shifting the phase of that portion of a laser beam directed from said beam splitter to said one substantially totally reflective surface whereby upon a 90* phase shift of said portion of said laser beam, said bandwidth-limited pulse will be dumped from said laser system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses comprising a laser medium, a reflective surface located adjacent one end of said laser medium and located along a common optical axis with said laser medium, a Michelson interferometer located adjacent the other end of said laser medium and in optical alignment with said reflective surface, said Michelson interferometer having a beam splitter, a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, both said surfaces being substantially totally reflective, and a means interposed between said beam splitter and one of said substantially totally reflective surfaces for shifting the phase of that portion of a laser beam directed from said beam splitter to said one substantially totally reflective surface whereby upon a 90* phase shift of said portion of said laser beam, said bandwidth-limited pulse will be dumped from said laser system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 1 further comprising a laser actuated switch operatively connected between said laser medium and said phase shifting means for actuating said phase shifting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 1 wherein means are connected to said first and second reflective surfaces of said Michelson interferometer for moving said first and second reflective surfaces a predetermined distance from said beam splitter along their respective optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 3 wherein said phase shifting means is in the form of an electro-optic crystal having its ends cut at Brewster''s angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 4 wherein said reflective surface located adjacent one end of said laser medium is a wedged-shaped mirror having a reflectivity of between 90-99 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 5 further comprising a laser actuated switch operably connected between said laser medium and said phase shifting means fOr actuating said phase shifting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second reflective surfaces are in the form of wedge shaped mirrors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 7 wherein said laser medium has its ends cut at Brewster''s angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser system for producing bandwidth-limited, cavity-dumped pulses as defined in claim 8 wherein said phase shifting means comprises a KDP crystal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3663890A
Cited
US3766393A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |