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US4999840A
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Stabilized synchronously pumped dye laser
Assignee: Coherent Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-14
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Granted: 1991-03-12
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Expires: 2010-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A length stabilized, dispersion compensated synchronously pumped mode locked dye laser is disclosed. The output of the dye laser is actively stabilized by monitoring the output power thereof and generating an error signal for actively adjusting the cavity length. The operation is enhanced by actively controlling the power of the pump pulses exciting the dye laser so that the power fluctuations in the dye laser are due primarily to fluctuations in cavity length. Stability is also enhanced by operating the cavity with a negative group velocity dispersion. The resultant lengthening of the output pulses is compensated by a pulse compressor, located outside of the cavity, which adds a positive group velocity dispersion to upchirp and shorten the pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel K. Negus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1109; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094026; H01S3/005; H01S3/0057; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/0811; H01S3/102; H01S3/1022; H01S3/13; H01S3/131; H01S3/1312; H01S3/139
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A laser system comprising: mode locking means for generating a train of pulses; means for generating a negative group velocity dispersion within a laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the pulses in said train; and means for adding positive group velocity dispersion to the pulses in said train outside of the laser resonator cavity to compress said pulses in said train.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A laser system comprising: mode locking means for generating a train of pulses; means for generating a negative group velocity dispersion within a laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the pulses in said train; and means for adding positive group velocity dispersion to the pulses in said train outside of the laser resonator cavity to compress said pulses in said train.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laser system are recited in claim 1 wherein said means for generating a negative group velocity dispersion includes a plurality of prisms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser system as recited in claim 2 further including a means for adjusting the position of the prisms to vary the negative group velocity dispersion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A laser system as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for adding positive group velocity dispersion includes a pair of rhombs and wherein said rhombs are oriented such that the train of pulses enter and exit at Brewster's angle to minimize transmission loss.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of operating a mode locked laser system having a means for varying the group velocity dispersion within the laser resonator cavity comprising the steps of: generating a negative group velocity dispersion in said laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the output pulses; and adding positive group velocity dispersion to the pulses outside of the laser resonator cavity to compress the pulses.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of operating a mode locked laser system having a means for varying the group velocity dispersion within the laser resonator cavity comprising the steps of: generating a negative group velocity dispersion in said laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the output pulses; and adding positive group velocity dispersion to the pulses outside of the laser resonator cavity to compress the pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said laser is tuned by the following steps: initially fixing a positive group velocity dispersion outside of the laser resonator cavity and thereafter; adjusting the negative group velocity dispersion within the cavity to minimize the length of the output pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A laser system comprising: mode locking means for generating a train of pulses; means for altering the group velocity dispersion within a laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the pulses in said train; and means, located outside the laser resonator cavity, for compensating for the altered group velocity dispersion imparted to the pulses in said train to compress said pulses in said train.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A laser system comprising: mode locking means for generating a train of pulses; means for altering the group velocity dispersion within a laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the pulses in said train; and means, located outside the laser resonator cavity, for compensating for the altered group velocity dispersion imparted to the pulses in said train to compress said pulses in said train.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A laser system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for altering the group velocity dispersion within the laser resonator cavity functions to generate negative group velocity dispersion and said compensation means functions to add positive group velocity dispersion to the pulses in the train.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A laser system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for altering the group velocity dispersion within the laser resonator cavity functions to generate positive group velocity dispersion and said compensation means functions to add negative group velocity dispersion to the pulses in the train.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of operating a mode locked laser system comprising the steps of: altering the group velocity dispersion in said laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the output pulses; and compensating for the altered group velocity dispersion of the pulses outside of the laser resonator cavity to compress the pulses.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of operating a mode locked laser system comprising the steps of: altering the group velocity dispersion in said laser resonator cavity to stabilize and lengthen the output pulses; and compensating for the altered group velocity dispersion of the pulses outside of the laser resonator cavity to compress the pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 10 wherein during said altering step, negative group velocity dispersion is added to said pulses and in said compensating step, positive group velocity dispersion is added to said pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 10 wherein during said altering step, positive group velocity dispersion is added to said pulses and in said compensating step, negative group velocity dispersion is added to said pulses.
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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) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-09-10 | 1995-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-11 | 1998-09-10 | 1999-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-11 | 2002-09-10 | 2003-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |