US5103457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elliptical mode cavities for solid-state lasers pumped by laser diodes
Assignee: Viavi Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1990-02-07
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Granted: 1992-04-07
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Expires: 2010-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A diode pumped solid-state laser is disclosed having: a block of a lasing gain material with at least two optical surfaces and a cavity means positioned around the block to define a laser cavity which includes a mode shaping means to form an eliptical resonator mode between the optical faces within the block; a high aspect ratio pumping laser diode light source is positioned outside one of said optical faces; and a means to image the pumping light beam from said source to substantially match the elliptical resonator mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. Wallace
- 👤 Kurt J. Weingarten
- 👤 David C. Shannon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08004; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415; H01S3/081; H01S3/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A diode pumped solid-state laser comprising: a block of lasing gain material having at least two optical surfaces; cavity-forming means positioned around said block to define a laser cavity, said cavity means including mode-shaping means to form an elliptical resonator mode within said block between said optical surfaces; a high aspect ratio laser diode pumping light source positioned outside one of said optical surfaces; and means to image a pumping light beam from said source to substantially match into said elliptical resonator mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A diode pumped solid-state laser comprising: a block of lasing gain material having at least two optical surfaces; cavity-forming means positioned around said block to define a laser cavity, said cavity means including mode-shaping means to form an elliptical resonator mode within said block between said optical surfaces; a high aspect ratio laser diode pumping light source positioned outside one of said optical surfaces; and means to image a pumping light beam from said source to substantially match into said elliptical resonator mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said cavity-forming means comprises a partially transmissive output-coupler mirror and a highly reflective mirror, and wherein said mode-shaping means comprises one or more anamorphic elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said anamorphic elements are prisms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said anamorphic element is a single Brewster surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said resonator mode is a single transverse mode along an optical axis in a straight line between said mirrors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said cavity forms said mode along an optical axis around a ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said high aspect ratio laser diode pumping light source comprises a laser diode bar including a plurality of separate laser diode arrays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said high aspect ratio is at least 400:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said gain material comprises Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Tm:YAG, or Tm:Ho:YAG.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 1 further comprising a frequency doubler positioned within said cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser of claim 1 further comprising a Q-switch positioned within said cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser of claim 1 further comprising a mode-locker positioned within said cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A Laser means comprising: a first mirror element having an outer side and an inner side, and which is highly transmissive to a wavelength of light incident on its outer side from a selected elliptical source of pump light; solid-state lasing gain means for receiving pump light through said first mirror element and converting said pump light into lasing light resonating in an elliptical mode on the inner side of said first mirror element; and a second mirror element for transmitting a selected percentage of, and reflecting the remaining percentage of, lasing light incident in a beam in said mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
A Laser means comprising: a first mirror element having an outer side and an inner side, and which is highly transmissive to a wavelength of light incident on its outer side from a selected elliptical source of pump light; solid-state lasing gain means for receiving pump light through said first mirror element and converting said pump light into lasing light resonating in an elliptical mode on the inner side of said first mirror element; and a second mirror element for transmitting a selected percentage of, and reflecting the remaining percentage of, lasing light incident in a beam in said mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A 355 Laser means as in claim 13 comprising, disposed between said gain means and said second mirror element, anamorphic means for transforming lasing light from said elliptical mode into a relatively circular mode closer to said second mirror element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A Laser means as in claim 14 wherein said anamorphic means configures said cavity for lasing in only one transverse mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A Laser means as in claim 14 wherein said anamorphic means is oriented off said axis between said solid-state lasing gain medium and said front mirror element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A Laser means as in claim 16 wherein said anamorphic means comprises anamorphic prism means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A Laser means as in claim 16 wherein said anamorphic means comprises a planar surface oriented at an angle non-normal to the incident mode beam axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A Laser means as in claim 18 wherein said angle is substantially Brewster's angle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said high aspect ratio laser diode means comprises a plurality of laser diode arrays aligned in a long bar.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said elliptical source has a high aspect ratio of at least 400 to 1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said resonator means forms a ring laser cavity within which said optical axis forms a polygon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said anamorphic means comprises a front out-coupler with a concave surface having different curvatures in orthogonal dimensions mirroring incident lasing light back through said gain medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said solid-state gain medium comprises a crystal selected from the group including Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Nd:BEL, Tm:YAG, Tm:Ho:YAG, and Nd:glass.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said cavity contains a frequency-doubler.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said cavity contains a mode-locker.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said cavity contains a Q-switch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A Laser means as in claim 13 wherein said gain medium comprises multiple solid-state gain elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4866730A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-07 | 1995-10-07 | 1996-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-07 | 1999-10-07 | 2000-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-07 | 2003-10-07 | 2004-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |