US4873692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pulsed tunable solid state laser
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1988-08-12
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Granted: 1989-10-10
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Expires: 2008-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A tunable solid state laser oscillator with very narrow spectral line width for pulsed output comprises a solid state laser medium that generates a laser beam along a resonant path, a beam expander, such as a prism beam expander or cylindrical optic, and a grating mounted with an adjustable angle of incidence with respect to the laser beam. By adjusting the angle of incidence of the beam on the grating, the laser output wavelength is tuned. Further, the reflectivity of the grating provides very narrow spectral line width for oscillation in the laser over the entire tuning range.
Inventors
- 👤 Bertram C. Johnson
- 👤 John C. DiFonzo
- 👤 Richard L. Herbst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/105; H01S3/1055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus, comprising: a solid state laser medium, coupled with an energy source, for amplifying a beam of coherent radiation along an optical path; a beam expander mounted along the optical path, having a first side facing the laser medium and a second side, for expanding the beam incident at the first side and transmitted out the second side in a first direction perpendicular to the optical path and for focusing a beam incident at the second side and transmitted out the first side; a grating, mounted along the optical path facing the second side of the beam expander at an adjustable angle of incidence for reflecting the expanded beam incident on the grating, the grooves in the grating being essentially perpendicular to the first direction and to the optical path; and means, connected to the grating, for adjusting the adjustable angle of incidence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus, comprising: a solid state laser medium, coupled with an energy source, for amplifying a beam of coherent radiation along an optical path; a beam expander mounted along the optical path, having a first side facing the laser medium and a second side, for expanding the beam incident at the first side and transmitted out the second side in a first direction perpendicular to the optical path and for focusing a beam incident at the second side and transmitted out the first side; a grating, mounted along the optical path facing the second side of the beam expander at an adjustable angle of incidence for reflecting the expanded beam incident on the grating, the grooves in the grating being essentially perpendicular to the first direction and to the optical path; and means, connected to the grating, for adjusting the adjustable angle of incidence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam expander comprises a cylindrical telescope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam expander comprises a prism beam expander.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam expander comprises a Cassegrainian expander.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam expander expands the beam from 5 to 10 times in the first direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises a chromium-doped crystalline host.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Ti:Al 2 O 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises a chromium-doped glass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Co:MgF 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises alexandrite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Cr 3 :Mg 2 SiO 4 (chromium-activated forsterite).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
176 words
A tunable laser, comprising: an energy source; a resonant cavity having an output coupler, the resonant cavity defining a resonant path; a solid state laser medium, within the resonant cavity and coupled with the energy source, for generating a laser beam along the resonant path; wherein the resonant cavity includes: a beam expander mounted along the resonant path, having a first side facing the laser medium and a second side, for expanding the beam incident at the first side and transmitted out the second side in a first direction perpendicular to the resonant path and for focusing a beam incident at the second side and transmitted out the first side; a grating, mounted along the resonant path facing the second side of the beam expander at an adjustable angle of incidence, for reflecting the expanded beam incident on the grating along the resonant path, the grooves in the grating being essentially perpendicular to the first direction and to the resonant path; and a servo-mechanism mounted with the grating for adjusting the adjustable angle of incidence. 21
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
176 words
A tunable laser, comprising: an energy source; a resonant cavity having an output coupler, the resonant cavity defining a resonant path; a solid state laser medium, within the resonant cavity and coupled with the energy source, for generating a laser beam along the resonant path; wherein the resonant cavity includes: a beam expander mounted along the resonant path, having a first side facing the laser medium and a second side, for expanding the beam incident at the first side and transmitted out the second side in a first direction perpendicular to the resonant path and for focusing a beam incident at the second side and transmitted out the first side; a grating, mounted along the resonant path facing the second side of the beam expander at an adjustable angle of incidence, for reflecting the expanded beam incident on the grating along the resonant path, the grooves in the grating being essentially perpendicular to the first direction and to the resonant path; and a servo-mechanism mounted with the grating for adjusting the adjustable angle of incidence. 21
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the beam expander comprises a cylindrical telescope.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the beam expander comprises a Cassegrainian expander.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the beam expander comprises a prism beam expander.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the beam expander expands the beam from 5 to 10 times in the first direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises a chromium-doped crystalline host.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Ti:Al 2 O 3 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises a chromium-doped glass.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Co:MgF 2 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises alexandrite.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Cr 3 :Mg 2 SiO 4 .
Claim 25
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus, comprising: a solid state laser medium, coupled with an energy source, for amplifying a beam of coherent radiation propagating along an optical path; means, mounted along the optical path and having a first side facing the laser medium, for reflecting a component of the beam incident on the first side along the optical path, the component having a tunable frequency with a spectral line width of less than 0.5 wave numbers; and means, mounted with the means for reflecting, for adjusting the means for reflecting to set the tunable frequency of the component.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus, comprising: a solid state laser medium, coupled with an energy source, for amplifying a beam of coherent radiation propagating along an optical path; means, mounted along the optical path and having a first side facing the laser medium, for reflecting a component of the beam incident on the first side along the optical path, the component having a tunable frequency with a spectral line width of less than 0.5 wave numbers; and means, mounted with the means for reflecting, for adjusting the means for reflecting to set the tunable frequency of the component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for reflecting comprises a beam expander and a grating mounted along the resonant path, the grating having an adjustable angle of incidence with respect to the resonant path.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for adjusting comprises a precision servo-mechanism coupled to the grating for controlling the adjustable angle of incidence.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the beam expander comprises a cylindrical telescope.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the beam expander comprises a prism beam expander.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the beam expander comprises a Cassegrainian expander.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the beam expander expands the beam from 5 to 10 times in the first direction.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises a chromium-doped crystalline host.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Ti:Al 2 O 3 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises chromium-doped glass.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Co:MgF 2 .
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises alexandrite.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solid state laser medium comprises Cr 3 :Mg 2 SiO 4 (chromium-activated forsterite).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-09 | 1993-04-10 | 1993-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-09 | 1997-04-10 | 1997-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-09 | 2001-04-10 | 2001-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |