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US4276519A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High yield diffraction limited laser oscillator

Assignee: Quantel SA
•
Filing: 1978-10-03
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Granted: 1981-06-30
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Expires: 1998-10-03
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Abstract

Abstract The laser oscillator comprises an optical amplifying medium and a diaphragm disposed between two mirrors defining a cavity. The diaphragm is placed between the amplifying medium and the mirror having a high coefficient of reflection. A polarizer is placed between the diaphragm and the amplifying medium. A device for rotating the polarization of the output beam of the oscillator and for transforming and returning this beam by reflection to the amplifying medium and the polarizer is provided so that, when the beam again reaches the amplifying medium, it has a section roughly equal to the section of the amplifying medium.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jean M. Marteau

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 10:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1112; H01S3/1115; H01S3/1118; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/0804; H01S3/0805; H01S3/08081; H01S3/081; H01S3/0818; H01S3/082; H01S3/10084; H01S3/10092; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/163; H01S3/164; H01S3/1643; H01S3/23; H01S3/2308

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A diffraction limited laser oscillator comprising first and second mirrors defining a cavity, an optical amplifying medium and a diaphragm interposed between the mirrors, the diaphragm being placed between the amplifying medium and said first mirror which has a high coefficient of reflection, the oscillator further comprising a polarizer placed between the diaphragm and the amplifying medium and a device for rotating the polarization of the beam of light leaving said cavity through said second mirror, for transforming and returning said beam by reflection to the amplifying medium and the polarizer, said device for rotating the polarization of said beam being located outside said cavity on the path of said beam, whereby, when the beam again reaches the amplifying medium, it has a section substantially equal to the section of the amplifying medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
A diffraction limited laser oscillator comprising first and second mirrors defining a cavity, an optical amplifying medium and a diaphragm interposed between the mirrors, the diaphragm being placed between the amplifying medium and said first mirror which has a high coefficient of reflection, the oscillator further comprising a polarizer placed between the diaphragm and the amplifying medium and a device for rotating the polarization of the beam of light leaving said cavity through said second mirror, for transforming and returning said beam by reflection to the amplifying medium and the polarizer, said device for rotating the polarization of said beam being located outside said cavity on the path of said beam, whereby, when the beam again reaches the amplifying medium, it has a section substantially equal to the section of the amplifying medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an optical switch located between said first mirror and said amplifying medium so that it constitutes an active Q switch laser oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said device for rotating the polarization, transforming and returning said beam of the oscillator comprises a polarization rotating means and a third mirror placed in the path of said beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said polarization rotating means is a natural birefringence quarter-wave plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said polarization rotating means is separate from said third mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third mirror is a divergent mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said polarization rotating means is a quarter-wave plate having birefringence induced by stresses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said stresses are mechanical stresses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stresses are electromagnetic stresses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said polarization rotating means is separate from said third mirror.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 10, wherein said third mirror is a divergent mirror.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said polarization rotating means is a rotator having a natural rotatory power.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 12, wherein said polarization rotating means is separate from said third mirror.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 13, wherein said third mirror is a divergent mirror.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
A laser oscillator as climed in claim 3, wherein said polarization rotating means is a rotator having a rotatory power induced by the Faraday effect.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said polarization rotating means is separate from said third mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 16 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 16, wherein said third mirror is a divergent mirror.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 37 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third mirror is a mirror having dielectric layers and said polarization rotating means is a means having a birefringence induced in the dielectric layers of said mirror.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 31 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, comprising an optical system associated with said third mirror for adapting the diameter of said beam to the dimensions of said amplifying medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the polarization rotating means constitutes an element separate from said second mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
A laser oscillator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the polarization rotating means is coincident with said second mirror.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3426294A Cited
US3500241A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-06-29 1984-12-29 1985-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-06-29 1988-12-29 1989-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-06-29 1992-12-29 1993-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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