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US4272733A
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Broadly tunable chromium-doped beryllium aluminate lasers and operation thereof
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1979-05-29
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Granted: 1981-06-09
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Expires: 1999-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A high power, broadly wavelength-tunable laser is provided which comprises as the laser medium particular single crystals of chromium-doped beryllium aluminate (BeAl 2 O 4 :Cr 3+ ) having the chrysoberyl structure, means for exciting the laser medium and tuning means. The laser may be operated over a broad temperature range from cryogenic temperatures to elevated temperatures. Elevated temperatures are preferred, however, since they result in higher laser gain. Emission is in a spectral range from red to infrared, and the laser is useful in the fields of defense, communications, isotope separation, photochemistry, etc. CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 953,067, filed Oct. 20, 1978.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Walling
- 👤 Robert C. Morris
- 👤 Otis G. Peterson
- 👤 Hans P. Jenssen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/1601; H01S3/162; H01S3/1623; H01S3/163; H01S3/1631; H01S3/1633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A broadly wavelength-tunable laser comprising: (a) a laser medium comprising a single crystal of beryllium aluminate of the chrysoberyl structure having a trivalent chromium doping concentration from about 0.002 to 10 atom percent with respect to aluminum sites; (b) means for exciting said laser medium to emit coherent radiation; (c) tuning means for tuning said coherent radiation in a spectral range from red to infrared; and (d) mirrors forming an optical resonator, said resonator enclosing the laser medium and tuning means and adapted for maintaining laser oscillations between the mirrors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A broadly wavelength-tunable laser comprising: (a) a laser medium comprising a single crystal of beryllium aluminate of the chrysoberyl structure having a trivalent chromium doping concentration from about 0.002 to 10 atom percent with respect to aluminum sites; (b) means for exciting said laser medium to emit coherent radiation; (c) tuning means for tuning said coherent radiation in a spectral range from red to infrared; and (d) mirrors forming an optical resonator, said resonator enclosing the laser medium and tuning means and adapted for maintaining laser oscillations between the mirrors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 1, in which the chromium doping concentration ranges from about 0.01 to 1.0 atom percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the chromium doping concentration ranges from about 0.1 to 0.4 atom percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the crystal is oriented such that the coherent radiation is propagated in a direction substantially along the a-c plane of the crystal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the tuning means is a birefringent filter rotatably mounted within the optical resonator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the tuning means is a prism and at least one of the mirrors is pivotably mounted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the tuning means is an optical grating rotatably mounted within the optical resonator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the tuning means is a multilayer dielectric coated filter rotatably mounted within the optical resonator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the tuning means is a lens having longitudinal chromatic aberration slidably mounted within the optical resonator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the means for exciting said laser medium comprises a pulsed incoherent light source emitting at wavelengths shorter than about 700 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 10 in which the light source comprises a xenon arc lamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the means for exciting said laser medium comprises a continuous incoherent light source emitting at wavelengths shorter than about 700 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 12 in which the light source comprises a mercury arc lamp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the means for exciting said laser medium comprises a pulsed coherent light source emitting at wavelengths shorter than about 700 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the light source comprises a continuous coherent light source emitting at wavelengths shorter than about 700 nm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laser of claim 1 further comprising means for Q-switching said laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 14 in which the Q-switching means comprises a Pockels cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser of claim 14 in which the Q-switching means comprise a Pockels cell and a polarizer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser of claim 1 further comprising mens for cooling said laser medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 17 in which the cooling means comprises a circulating fluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser of claim 18 in which the cooling means further comprises means for adjusting the temperature of the circulating fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3997853A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-08 | 1984-12-08 | 1985-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-08 | 1988-12-08 | 1989-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-08 | 1992-12-08 | 1993-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |