US5052815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single frequency ring laser with two reflecting surfaces
Assignee: Coherent Inc
•
Filing: 1990-04-13
•
Granted: 1991-10-01
•
Expires: 2010-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A ring laser is provided with only two reflecting surfaces to define the cavity. A gain medium is located between the reflecting surfaces. At least one optical interface is located within the cavity and is oriented such that the beam will be deflected by refraction to create a ring path. The angle of incidence of the beam with the interface should be less than Brewster's angle and the surface should have an antireflective coating. The interface can be located on the lasant material, on a non-linear optical material or on a passive optical element. Preferably, the device is arranged to achieve unidirectional and single frequency operation. When the ring is used for intracavity second harmonic generation, the resultant output is amplitude stable because of the avoidance of mode beating. The second harmonic radiation is generated unidirectionally increasing useable output.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Nightingale
- 👤 John K. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0606; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083; H01S3/0615; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A ring laser comprising: a resonant cavity defined by a pair of reflecting surfaces; a block of lasant material located between said reflecting surfaces and; a means for pumping said lasant material to generate a laser beam, and with said block of lasant material having at least one face oriented to deflect the path of the laser beam by refraction which in combination with said reflecting surfaces creates a ring path, and wherein said face includes an antireflective coating, and wherein the angle of incidence of the laser beam with said face is less than Brewster's angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A ring laser comprising: a resonant cavity defined by a pair of reflecting surfaces; a block of lasant material located between said reflecting surfaces and; a means for pumping said lasant material to generate a laser beam, and with said block of lasant material having at least one face oriented to deflect the path of the laser beam by refraction which in combination with said reflecting surfaces creates a ring path, and wherein said face includes an antireflective coating, and wherein the angle of incidence of the laser beam with said face is less than Brewster's angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 1 wherein one of said reflecting surfaces of said resonant cavity is formed on said lasant material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 1 wherein said block of lasant material includes two faces for deflecting the laser beam by refraction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 1 further comprising: means functioning to produce unidirectional operation of the laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for producing unidirectional operation comprises: means for generating a nonreciprocal polarization rotation of the laser beam; means for generating a reciprocal polarization rotation of the laser beam; and means for introducing a differential loss between the two polarization orientations of the laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 1 further including a non-linear optical material located at or near the waist of said resonant cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 1 wherein the angle of incidence of the laser beam with said face is less than 45 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 1 wherein said lasant material is optically pumped by light from a laser diode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A ring laser comprising: a resonant cavity defined by a pair of reflecting surfaces; and a block of lasant material located between said reflecting surfaces and; a means for pumping said lasant material to generate a laser beam, and with said block of lasant material having at least one face oriented to deflect the path of the laser beam by refraction which in combination with said reflecting surfaces creates a ring path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A ring laser comprising: a resonant cavity defined by a pair of reflecting surfaces; and a block of lasant material located between said reflecting surfaces and; a means for pumping said lasant material to generate a laser beam, and with said block of lasant material having at least one face oriented to deflect the path of the laser beam by refraction which in combination with said reflecting surfaces creates a ring path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 wherein said face includes an antireflective coating, and wherein the angle of incidence of the laser beam with said face is less than Brewster's angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 wherein the angle of incidence of the laser beam with said face is less than 45 degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 wherein one of said reflecting surfaces of said resonant cavity is formed on said lasant material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 wherein said block of lasant material includes two faces for deflecting the laser beam by refraction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 further comprising: means functioning to produce unidirectional operation of the laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for producing unidirectional operation comprises: means for generating a nonreciprocal polarization rotation of the laser beam; means for generating a reciprocal polarization rotation of the laser beam; and means for introducing a differential loss between the two polarization orientations of the laser beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 further including a non-linear optical material located at or near the waist of said resonant cavity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ring laser as recited in claim 9 wherein said lasant material is optically pumped by light from a laser diode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser as recited in claim 9 wherein said beam makes only a single pass through said lasant material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser as recited in claim 9 wherein said beam is deflected at no more than two faces of said lasant material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser as recited in claim 19 wherein said beam is deflected at only one face of said lasant material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3200342A
Cited
US3414839A
Cited
US4507785A
Cited
US4525843A
Cited
US4578793A
Cited
US4739507A
Cited
US4656635A
Cited
US4653056A
Cited
US4653056B1
Cited
US4747111A
Cited
US4827480A
Cited
US4797896A
Cited
US4933947A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-30 | 1995-04-01 | 1995-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-30 | 1999-04-01 | 1999-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-30 | 2003-04-01 | 2003-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |