US5056103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for aligning the optic axis of an intra-cavity birefringent element, and tunable laser using same
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
•
Filing: 1990-01-24
•
Granted: 1991-10-08
•
Expires: 2010-01-24
Abstract
Abstract Alignment of a birefringent device characterized by a first face and a second face cut at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined. The optical device is secured in the optical path by a rotatable member having an axis of rotation that is normal to the Brewster faces of the optical device. Coupled with the rotatable member on the axis of rotation is a support allowing adjustment of the angular position about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member. An operator adjusts the angular position of the rotatable member until the C-axis lies in the plane of polarization. Even though the C-axis may not be parallel to the direction of polarization, the depolarization effects of the misalignment are eliminated by proper adjustment of the angular position relative to the plane of polarization. A tunable, solid state laser using the alignment apparatus with a birefringent filter achieves greater linear tuning range.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J. Alfrey
- 👤 James A. Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for supporting an optical device in an optical path, the optical device having a first face and a second face, at least one of the first and second faces at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined, comprising: rotatable means, having an axis of rotation and an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, for supporting the optical device, wherein the axis of rotation is normal to the one face at Brewster's angle; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the optical device in the optical path so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces and so that the axis of rotation does not intersect the optical device; means, connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position relative to the plane of polarization.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for supporting an optical device in an optical path, the optical device having a first face and a second face, at least one of the first and second faces at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined, comprising: rotatable means, having an axis of rotation and an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, for supporting the optical device, wherein the axis of rotation is normal to the one face at Brewster's angle; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the optical device in the optical path so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces and so that the axis of rotation does not intersect the optical device; means, connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position relative to the plane of polarization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical device is birefringent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises an anisotropic crystal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises a rod-shaped laser gain medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical device is a laser gain medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises crystalline titanium sapphire having a C-axis, and the C-axis lies in a plane having an angular position about the axis of rotation determined by the adjustable angular position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable means comprises heat conducting material, and further including: means, coupled to the rotatable means, for flowing a heat transfer medium in contact with the heat conducting material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means, in heat flow communication with the gain medium, for controlling the temperature of the gain medium.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
203 words
An apparatus for generating a laser beam, comprising: an optical resonant cavity defining an optical path; a birefringent filter mounted within the resonant cavity along the optical path; a gain medium, the gain medium having a first face and a second face, at least one of the first and second faces at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined; rotatable means, having an axis of rotation and an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, for supporting the gain medium so that the gain medium has an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is normal to the one face at Brewster's angle; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the optical device in the optical path so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces and so that the axis of rotation does not intersect the gain medium; means, connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position relative to the plane of polarization; and means, coupled with the resonant activity, for supplying a pump energy beam longitudinally into the gain medium through at least one of the first and second faces.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
203 words
An apparatus for generating a laser beam, comprising: an optical resonant cavity defining an optical path; a birefringent filter mounted within the resonant cavity along the optical path; a gain medium, the gain medium having a first face and a second face, at least one of the first and second faces at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined; rotatable means, having an axis of rotation and an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, for supporting the gain medium so that the gain medium has an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is normal to the one face at Brewster's angle; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the optical device in the optical path so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces and so that the axis of rotation does not intersect the gain medium; means, connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position relative to the plane of polarization; and means, coupled with the resonant activity, for supplying a pump energy beam longitudinally into the gain medium through at least one of the first and second faces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the gain medium comprises an anisotropic crystal having a C-axis, and the C-axis lies in a plane having an angular position about the axis of rotation determined by the adjustable angular position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the gain medium is rod-shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the gain medium comprises crystalline titanium sapphire having a C-axis, and the C-axis lies in a plane having an angular position about the axis of rotation determined by the adjustable angular position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rotatable means comprises heat conducting material, and further including: means, coupled to the rotatable means, for flowing a heat transfer medium in contact with the heat conducting material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further including: means, in heat flow communication with the gain medium, for controlling the temperature of the gain medium.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for supporting an optical device in an optical path, the optical device having a first face and a second face, at least one of the first and second faces cut at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined, comprising: rotatable means, having an axis of rotation and in heat flow communication with the optical device, for supporting the optical device so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces and the optical device has an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation is normal to the one face at Brewster's angle; means, in heat flow communication with the optical device, for controlling temperature of the optical device; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the optical device so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces; and means, connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position relative to the plane of polarization.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for supporting an optical device in an optical path, the optical device having a first face and a second face, at least one of the first and second faces cut at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined, comprising: rotatable means, having an axis of rotation and in heat flow communication with the optical device, for supporting the optical device so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces and the optical device has an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation is normal to the one face at Brewster's angle; means, in heat flow communication with the optical device, for controlling temperature of the optical device; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the optical device so that the optical path intersects the first and second faces; and means, connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position relative to the plane of polarization.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the optical device is birefringent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the optical device comprises an anisotropic crystal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the optical device comprises a rod-shaped laser gain medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the optical device is a laser gain medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the optical device comprises crystalline titanium sapphire having a C-axis, and the C-axis lies in a plane having an angular position about the axis of rotation determined by the adjustable angular position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the support means is connected to the rotatable means on the axis of rotation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for controlling temperature comprises: means, coupled to the rotatable means, for flowing a heat transfer medium in contact with the rotatable means.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus for generating a laser beam, comprising: an optical resonant cavity defining an optical path; tunable means, mounted within the resonant cavity, for tuning the resonant cavity to select a wavelength of oscillation over a range of wavelengths; a gain medium comprising an anisotropic crystalline material having a crystalline axis and capable of supporting laser gain over the range of wavelengths, the gain medium having a first face and a second face at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined; rotatable means, having an axis of rotation, for supporting the gain medium so that the axis of rotation is normal to the first face and the gain medium in the rotatable means has an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the gain medium in the optical path so that the axis of rotation does not intersect the gain medium; connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position in order to align the crystalline axis essentially within the plane of polarization; and means, coupled with the resonant activity, for supplying a pump energy beam longitudinally into the gain medium through at least one of the first and second faces.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus for generating a laser beam, comprising: an optical resonant cavity defining an optical path; tunable means, mounted within the resonant cavity, for tuning the resonant cavity to select a wavelength of oscillation over a range of wavelengths; a gain medium comprising an anisotropic crystalline material having a crystalline axis and capable of supporting laser gain over the range of wavelengths, the gain medium having a first face and a second face at Brewster's angle so that a plane of polarization is defined; rotatable means, having an axis of rotation, for supporting the gain medium so that the axis of rotation is normal to the first face and the gain medium in the rotatable means has an adjustable angular position about the axis of rotation; support means, connected to the rotatable means, for supporting the gain medium in the optical path so that the axis of rotation does not intersect the gain medium; connected to the rotatable means and the support means, for adjusting the adjustable angular position in order to align the crystalline axis essentially within the plane of polarization; and means, coupled with the resonant activity, for supplying a pump energy beam longitudinally into the gain medium through at least one of the first and second faces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further including: means, connected to the rotatable means, for supplying a heat transfer medium in contact with the rotatable means to control temperature of the gain medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the gain medium is rod-shaped.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the gain medium comprises titanium:sapphire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4894831A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |