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US4894831A
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US
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Longitudinally pumped laser oscillator
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1988-09-07
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Granted: 1990-01-16
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Expires: 2008-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A longitudinally pumped laser is characterized by one segment in which the cavity mode is astigmatic. A solid state medium is mounted within the one segment, so that a volume of the astigmatic cavity mode within the laser medium defines a cavity mode volume. A pump beam is supplied collinearly with the cavity mode through a means causing astigmatic focusing of the pump beam in the laser medium to define a pumped volume within the laser medium. The astigmatically focusing means is mounted according to a precalculated parameter that achieves the best possible average match of the pumped volume with the cavity mode volume, in light of the physical limitations on layout of the resonant cavity. The one segment may be defined by a first off-axis spherical mirror and a second off-axis spherical mirror, with a Brewster-cut solid state medium mounted in between. The astigmatic focusing means is implemented with a third off-axis spherical mirror which focuses the pumping beam through the first off-axis spherical mirror collinearly with the cavity mode into the laser medium. The angle of incidence of the pumping beam on the third off-axis spherical mirror is precalculated to achieve the best average match between the pumped volume and cavity mode volume within the medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J. Alfrey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094038; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/0813; H01S3/0816; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/162; H01S3/1625; H01S3/163; H01S3/1631; H01S3/1636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for generating cavity mode, comprising: a resonant cavity supporting a cavity mode along a resonant path, the cavity characterized by a segment of the resonant path in which the cavity mode is astigmatic; a laser medium mounted within the segment of the resonant path so that a volume of the astigmatic cavity mode within the laser medium defines a cavity mode volume; means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for supplying a pump beam having a wavelength different from the cavity mode; astigmatic focusing means, mounted at a preselected angle of incidence with the pump beam, for focusing the pump beam along a longitudinal axis to define a pumped volume in the laser medium, such that the best average match of the pumped volume and the cavity mode volume within the laser medium is achieved to thereby maximize output power from the laser medium; and means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for abstracting energy from the cavity mode to produce an output beam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for generating cavity mode, comprising: a resonant cavity supporting a cavity mode along a resonant path, the cavity characterized by a segment of the resonant path in which the cavity mode is astigmatic; a laser medium mounted within the segment of the resonant path so that a volume of the astigmatic cavity mode within the laser medium defines a cavity mode volume; means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for supplying a pump beam having a wavelength different from the cavity mode; astigmatic focusing means, mounted at a preselected angle of incidence with the pump beam, for focusing the pump beam along a longitudinal axis to define a pumped volume in the laser medium, such that the best average match of the pumped volume and the cavity mode volume within the laser medium is achieved to thereby maximize output power from the laser medium; and means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for abstracting energy from the cavity mode to produce an output beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser medium comprises a Brewster-cut sample of laser gain material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the laser gain material is Ti:Sapphire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a component of the pump beam is transmitted through the laser medium, and further including means, mounted outside the segment, for reflecting the component of the pump beam through the laser medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resonant cavity comprises a first off-axis concave mirror and a second off-axis concave mirror mounted to define the segment so that the cavity mode is astigmatically focused through the laser medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first off-axis concave mirror reflects the cavity mode and transmits light at the wavelength of the pump beam, and wherein the astigmatic focusing means directs the pump beam through the first off-axis concave mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second off-axis concave mirror reflects the cavity mode and transmits a component of the pump beam, and further including means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for reflecting the component of the pump beam back through the laser medium.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
218 words
An apparatus for generating a laser beam, comprising: a folded resonant cavity supporting a cavity mode along a resonant path, the cavity characterized by a first off-axis concave mirror and a second off-axis concave mirror defining a segment of the resonant path between the first and second off-axis concave mirrors in which the cavity mode is astigmatic; a laser medium mounted between the first and second off-axis concave mirrors so that a volume of the astigmatic cavity mode within the laser medium defines a cavity mode volume; means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for supplying a pump beam having a wavelength different from the cavity mode; a third off-axis concave mirror having a focal length and a position relative to the laser medium, mounted at a preselected angle of incidence with the pump beam to reflect the pump beam through the first off-axis concave mirror and collinearly with the cavity mode through the laser medium, a volume of the pump beam within the laser medium defining a pumped volume, such that the best average match of the pumped volume and the cavity mode volume within the laser medium is achieved to thereby maximize output power from the laser medium; and means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for abstracting energy from the cavity mode to produce the laser beam.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
218 words
An apparatus for generating a laser beam, comprising: a folded resonant cavity supporting a cavity mode along a resonant path, the cavity characterized by a first off-axis concave mirror and a second off-axis concave mirror defining a segment of the resonant path between the first and second off-axis concave mirrors in which the cavity mode is astigmatic; a laser medium mounted between the first and second off-axis concave mirrors so that a volume of the astigmatic cavity mode within the laser medium defines a cavity mode volume; means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for supplying a pump beam having a wavelength different from the cavity mode; a third off-axis concave mirror having a focal length and a position relative to the laser medium, mounted at a preselected angle of incidence with the pump beam to reflect the pump beam through the first off-axis concave mirror and collinearly with the cavity mode through the laser medium, a volume of the pump beam within the laser medium defining a pumped volume, such that the best average match of the pumped volume and the cavity mode volume within the laser medium is achieved to thereby maximize output power from the laser medium; and means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for abstracting energy from the cavity mode to produce the laser beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the laser medium comprises a Brewster-cut sample of laser gain material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the laser gain material is Ti:Sapphire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second off-axis concave mirror reflects the cavity mode and transmits a component of the pump beam, and further including: means, mounted with the resonant cavity, for reflecting the component of the pump beam through the laser medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4433418A
Cited
US4756003A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-15 | 1993-07-17 | 1994-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-07-17 | 1998-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-15 | 2001-07-17 | 2002-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |