Electro-optic harmonic conversion to switch a laser beam out of a cavity

Claim 3

injecting a laser pulse into the laser cavity to travel in the closed optical path; amplifying the laser pulse until a desired laser light energy is reached; applying an electric field across the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal in an effective amount for substantially converting the desired laser light energy to a harmonic frequency; and permitting the desired laser light energy, after being harmonically converted, to be substantially transmitted as a laser beam outside of the laser cavity.

Claim 4

injecting a laser pulse into the laser cavity to travel in the closed optical path; amplifying the laser pulse until a desired laser light energy is reached; applying an electric field across the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal in an effective amount for substantially converting the desired laser light energy to a harmonic frequency; and permitting the desired laser light energy, after being harmonically converted, to be substantially transmitted as a laser beam outside of the laser cavity.

Claim 5

The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of permitting the desired laser light energy to be substantially transmitted outside of the laser cavity comprises transmitting the desired laser light energy through a dichroic end mirror of the laser cavity.

Claim 6

Tne method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying an electric field across the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal is done in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.

Claim 7

Tne method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying an electric field across the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal is done in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

Claim 8

The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of converting the desired laser light energy to a harmonic frequency utilizes Type I harmonic conversion.

Claim 9

The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of converting the desired laser light energy to a harmonic frequency utilizes Type 2 harmonic conversion.

Claim 10

The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of converting the desired laser light energy to a harmonic frequency utilizes frequency doubling.

Claim 11

The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of converting the desired laser light energy to a harmonic frequency utilizes frequency tripling.

Claim 12

Apparatus for using electro-optic harmonic conversion to switch a laser beam out of a laser cavity, comprising: a laser cavity forming a closed optical path centered about an optical axis running in the closed optical path bounded by two end mirrors; at least one amplifier medium placed in the laser cavity; an amplifier pumping means an electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal placed in the laser cavity; an electric field pulser operatively connected to the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal to provide a predetermined electric field across the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal for substantially converting the laser lignt to a harmonic frequency; and a discriminator means for permitting harmonically converted laser light to travel in a laser beam out of the laser cavity while permitting unconverted laser light to remain substantially within in the laser cavity.

Claim 13

Apparatus for using electro-optic harmonic conversion to switch a laser beam out of a laser cavity, comprising: a laser cavity forming a closed optical path centered about an optical axis running in the closed optical path bounded by two end mirrors; at least one amplifier medium placed in the laser cavity; an amplifier pumping means an electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal placed in the laser cavity; an electric field pulser operatively connected to the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal to provide a predetermined electric field across the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal for substantially converting the laser lignt to a harmonic frequency; and a discriminator means for permitting harmonically converted laser light to travel in a laser beam out of the laser cavity while permitting unconverted laser light to remain substantially within in the laser cavity.

Claim 14

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the discriminator means is a dichroic mirror as one of the two end mirrors of the laser cavity.

Claim 15

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the discriminator means is a polarization sensitive reflector positioned to reflect harmonically converted laser light out of the laser cavity.

Claim 16

An apparatus as in claim 9, further including electrodes in physical contact with the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal and electrically connected to the electric field pulser.

Claim 17

An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the electrodes are on sides of the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal which are not in the closed optical path.

Claim 18

An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the electrodes are on sides of the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal which are in the closed optical path.

Claim 19

An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the electrodes are made of a solid material:

Claim 20

An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the electrodes are made of a liquid material.

Claim 21

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal frequency converts the laser light by Type 1 harmonic conversion.

Claim 22

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal frequency converts the laser light by Type 2, harmonic conversion.

Claim 23

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined electric field is modulated, whereby the laser beam is modulated.

Claim 24

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal frequency converts the laser light by modified Type 11 harmonic conversion.

Claim 25

An apparatus as shown in claim 9, wherein the electro-optic harmonic conversion crystal frequency converts the laser light by modified Type II quadrature.