US4757268A — Energy scalable laser amplifier

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

A laser comprising: a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source; a plurality of laser gain elements positioned in a operationally parallel configuration with each amplifier having first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting amplified radiation and having second aperture means for transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate; input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said gain elements; phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each said amplifiers back to said respective second aperture means; and output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

A laser comprising: a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source; a plurality of laser gain elements positioned in a operationally parallel configuration with each amplifier having first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting amplified radiation and having second aperture means for transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate; input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said gain elements; phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each said amplifiers back to said respective second aperture means; and output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The laser of claim 1 further including collimation means positioned so as to expand the radiation beam from said master oscillator so as to be intercepted by all of said first aperture means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

A laser of claim 1 wherein said input means comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 59 words

The laser of claim 3 wherein said output coupling means comprises polarization modification means for modifying the polarization state of the amplified radiation transmitted by each of said first aperture means with respect to the unamplified input radiation received thereby so as to cause said amplified radiation to be directed out of said laser by said polarizing beam splitter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The laser of claim 4 wherein said polarization modification means comprises a quarter-wave plate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The laser of claim 4 wherein said polarization modification means comprises a Faraday rotator.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The laser of claim 1 wherein said laser gain elements are positioned so as to form a two dimensional array.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The laser of claim 1 further comprising focusing means for focusing the radiation from each of said second aperture means into said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The laser of claim 1 wherein said phase conjugate reflector means comprises means for producing stimulated Brilluoin scattering.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The laser of claim 1 wherein said phase conjugate reflector means comprises means for producing four wave mixing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The laser of claim 1 wherein said input means comprises a plurality of highly reflective surfaces aligned so as to direct predetermined portions of said unamplified radiation to each of said first aperture means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

The laser of claim 1 further comprising conjugate transfer means, for coupling radiation between said second aperture means and said phase conjugate reflector means, disposed along the optical path between each of said second aperture means and said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The laser of claim 12 wherein said phase conjugate transfer means comprises a plurality of reflective prisms arranged so as to intercept radiation from each of second aperture means and reflect said radiation into said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The laser of claim 13 further comprising focusing means for focusing amplified radiation from said phase conjugate transfer means into said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The laser of claim 1 further comprising focusing means for focusing amplified radiation from said second aperture means into said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 161 words

A solid-state laser comprising: a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source; a plurality of solid-state laser gain elements positioned in a operationally parallel configuration with each gain element having first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting amplified radiation and having second aperture means for transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate; input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said gain elements; phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each said gain elements back to said respective second aperture means; and output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said solid-state laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 161 words

A solid-state laser comprising: a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source; a plurality of solid-state laser gain elements positioned in a operationally parallel configuration with each gain element having first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting amplified radiation and having second aperture means for transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate; input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said gain elements; phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each said gain elements back to said respective second aperture means; and output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said solid-state laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The laser of claim 16 wherein said plurality of solid-state gain elements further comprise an array of solid-state laser crystals configured as a single monolithic gain structure.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The laser of claim 17 werein said solid-state laser crystals are chosen from the group comprising alexandrite, Nd:YAG, Nd;YLF, Nd:YA10, Co:MgF2, or Ti:sapphire.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The laser of claim 17 further comprising a compliant bonding material disposed between each of said laser crystals so as to provide said monolithic gain structure.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

The laser of claim 19 further comprising isolation means disposed between each of said laser crystals for substantially preventing the optical coupling of radiation generated by means of amplified spontaneous emission between adjacent gain elements in said monolithic gain structure.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The laser of claim 20 wherein said isolation means comprises a material for absorbing radiation at the operating wavelength of radiation generated by means of amplified spontaneous emission in said laser crystals.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The laser of claim 20 wherein said isolation means comprises a layer of high quality glass doped with a radiation absorbing material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The laser of claim 16 further comprising spacing means between said gain elements so as to provide heat dissipation channels.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The laser of claim 16 further including collimation means positioned so as to expand the radiation beam from said master oscillator so as to be intercepted by all of said first aperture means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 57 words

The laser of claim 24 wherein said output coupling means comprises polarization modification means for modifying the polarization state of the amplified radiation transmitted by each of said first aperture means with respect to the unamplified input radiation so as to cause said amplified radiation to be directed out of said laser by said polarizing beam splitter.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The laser of claim 16 wherein said phase conjugate reflector means comprises means for producing stimulated Brilluoin scattering.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 42 words

The laser of claim 16 further comprising conjugate transfer means, for coupling radiation between said second aperture means and said phase conjugate reflector means, disposed along the optical path between each of said second aperture means and said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

The laser of claim 27 further comprising focusing means for focusing amplified radiation from said conjugate transfer means into said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 162 words

A diode laser comprising: a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source; an array of laser diode gain elements disposed in a substantially parallel configuration with each diode gain element havng first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate; input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements; phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements back to said respective second aperture means; and output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of laser diode gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said diode laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 162 words

A diode laser comprising: a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source; an array of laser diode gain elements disposed in a substantially parallel configuration with each diode gain element havng first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate; input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements; phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements back to said respective second aperture means; and output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of laser diode gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said diode laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 116 words

The laser of claim 29 wherein said array of laser diode gain elements further comprises: first, second, and third material layers disposed on a substrate with the second of said layers being capable of supporting laser radiation upon excitation by a pumping current applied across all three of said layers and having the indexes of refraction of each of said layers controlled so as to confine optical radiation in said second layer; and optical isolation grooves which extend through all three of said layers to said substrate for optically isolating regions of said second layer into adjacent regions having separate apertures, said grooves being disposed at substantially regular intervals across the surface of said material layers.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 42 words

The laser of claim 30 wherein said material layers comprise Al x Ga 1-x As with the value of x being chosen so that the index of refraction of said second layer is greater than that of said first and thire layers.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 47 words

The laser of claim 30 wherein said material layers comprise Ga x In 1-x P y As 1-y with the values of x and y being chosen so that the index of refraction of said second layer is greater than that of said first and third layers.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 66 words

The laser of claim 29 wherein said master oscillator comprises an array of diode gain elements driven by a second master oscillator source with a phase conjugation means operatively coupled to said gain elements so as to return the phase conjugate of amplified radiation thereto wherein it is amplified further and exits said gain elements and is coupled out of said master oscillator by output means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 39 words

The laser of claim 29 wherein said master oscillator, said array of laser diode gain elements, said input means, said phase conjugate reflector means and said output coupling means are disposed on a single large scale integrated circuit wafer.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 15 words

The laser of claim 29 wherein said phase conjugate reflector means comprises optical fiber waveguides.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 56 words

The laser of claima 35 wherein said output means comprises polarization modification means for modifying the polarization state of the amplified radiation transmitted by each of said first aperture means with respect to the unamplified input radiation so as to cause said amplified radiation to be directed out of said laser by said polarizing beam splitter.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

The laser of claim 36 further comprising focusing means for focusing amplified radiation from said conjugate transfer means into said phase conjugate reflector means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 14 words

The laser of claim 16 wherein said input means comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 14 words

The laser of claim 29 wherein said input means comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 42 words

The laser of claim 29 further comprising conjugate transfer means, for coupling radiation between said second aperture means and said phase conjugate reflector means, disposed along the optical path between each of said second aperture means and said phase conjugate reflector means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-07-12	1992-01-11	1992-07-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-07-12	1996-01-11	1996-07-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-07-12	2000-01-11	2000-07-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Energy scalable laser amplifier

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