Interface module for transverse energy input to dye laser modules

Claim 2

An interface module for use in inputting transverse electromagnetic beam energy to a dye laser component having excitable dye molecules situated within a lasing zone therein, comprising: a plurality of optical fibers, each of said fibers having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of each of said fibers disposed proximate to a lasing zone of a dye laser component each of said fibers having an associated energy beam source for generating energy suitable for pumping dye molecules of said dye laser component situated proximate to said distal end such that said energy generated by said energy beam source is delivered by each of said fibers in substantially the form of a coherent beam from said proximal end of each said fibers in a direction substantially transverse to said lasing zone; and a plurality of optical shaping elements, said optical shaping elements formed into an optical element array, said optical shaping elements working in conjunction with each other to direct said energy delivered by each of said optical fibers into an elongated broad beam, a portion of said broad beam forming an illumination bar, said illumination bar having a substantially uniform intensity over a zone in the shape of a rectangular solid, said optical element array being positioned and configured such that said illumination bar coincides with said lasing zone of said dye laser component.

Claim 3

The interface module of claim 1 wherein said lasing zone has a elongated rectangular transverse cross section and said optical fibers are arrayed so as to be coplanar.

Claim 4

The interface module of claim 1 wherein said proximal ends of said optical fibers are held in a relay structure secured in transverse juxtaposition to said dye laser component, said relay structure securing and positioning said fibers such that said proximal ends thereof are directed at a single point.

Claim 5

The interface module of claim 3 wherein the relay structure includes a relay housing including a plurality of fiber entry apertures situated on the side of the relay housing opposite the dye laser component, each of said fiber entry apertures configured to receive one of said optical fibers.

Claim 6

The interface module of claim 4 wherein p1 the relay housing is formed of a pair of opposing mounting plates secured vertically together, with said optical fibers disposed therebetween.

Claim 7

The interface module of claim 1 wherein said fibers are arrayed such that the outermost fibers of said array have their proximal ends directed at a relative angle of no greater than 20 degrees.

Claim 8

The interface module of claim 1 wherein said optical element array includes a plurality of cylindrical optical elements for vertically configuring said energy delivered by each of said fibers, while having minimal effect on the horizontal configuration of said energy delivered by each of said fibers.

Claim 9

The interface module of claim 1 wherein said optical element array includes a spherical telescope for sharing said energy delivered by each of said fibers both vertically and horizontally to form said illumination bar.

Claim 10

In a device for delivering concentrated electromagnetic energy to a zone having an elongated rectangular transverse cross section, the improvement comprising: a plurality of optical fibers each of said fibers having a proximal and a distal end with said proximal ends thereof being formed into a substantially coplanar array, said proximal ends being aligned so as to be convergingly directed, said proximal ends disposed adjacent to a zone having an elongated rectangular transverse cross section; energy source means for delivering energy to said distal end of each of said optical fibers such that said energy received by each of said fibers is delivered as an output beam in substantially coherent form from said proximal ends of each of said fibers; and output shaping means coupled to each of said output beams delivered in substantially coherent form from said proximal ends of each of said fibers for forming an illumination bar having a transverse cross sectional shape in the form of an elongated rectangle, said illumination bar having substantially uniform energy intensity.

Claim 11

In a device for delivering concentrated electromagnetic energy to a zone having an elongated rectangular transverse cross section, the improvement comprising: a plurality of optical fibers each of said fibers having a proximal and a distal end with said proximal ends thereof being formed into a substantially coplanar array, said proximal ends being aligned so as to be convergingly directed, said proximal ends disposed adjacent to a zone having an elongated rectangular transverse cross section; energy source means for delivering energy to said distal end of each of said optical fibers such that said energy received by each of said fibers is delivered as an output beam in substantially coherent form from said proximal ends of each of said fibers; and output shaping means coupled to each of said output beams delivered in substantially coherent form from said proximal ends of each of said fibers for forming an illumination bar having a transverse cross sectional shape in the form of an elongated rectangle, said illumination bar having substantially uniform energy intensity.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said optical fibers are disposed in a coplanar array in the plane of the major axis of said elongated rectangular cross section.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said output beams delivered from each of said proximal ends of said optical fibers are aimed at a common point.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said output shaping means includes a plurality of optical lens components, at least some of said optical lens components are cylindrical.

Claim 15

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said optical shaping means includes a spherical telescope.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said plurality of optical fibers is held in position by a relay structure situated in transverse juxtaposition to said zone.

Claim 17

A fiber optic relay structure for use with a dye laser amplifier having excitable dye molecules passing through a lasing zone therein, the lasing zone being spatially bounded by a pair of opposing optically clear end windows and a pair of optically clear transverse windows, the dye laser amplifier receiving an axial input beam passing through the lasing zone, the amplifier including means for generating an enhanced output beam continuing in the direction of the input beam, the fiber optic relay structure comprising: a relay housing situated adjacent to a pair of optically clear transverse windows spatially bounding a lasing zone of a dye laser amplifier; an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each of said fibers having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of each said optical fibers secured within said relay housing, said distal end of each of said optical fibers coupled to an energy source, said energy source having means for producing dye molecule excitation energy, said dye molecule excitation energy directed through each of said optical fibers such that said dye molecule excitation energy emerges at said proximal end thereof as a fiber output beam; an optical shaping array including a plurality of optical components, said optical shaping array operating on each of said fiber output beams to form a focused beam, said focused beam including an illumination bar segment having substantially uniform intensity in a three dimensional volume corresponding to said lasing zone.

Claim 18

A fiber optic relay structure for use with a dye laser amplifier having excitable dye molecules passing through a lasing zone therein, the lasing zone being spatially bounded by a pair of opposing optically clear end windows and a pair of optically clear transverse windows, the dye laser amplifier receiving an axial input beam passing through the lasing zone, the amplifier including means for generating an enhanced output beam continuing in the direction of the input beam, the fiber optic relay structure comprising: a relay housing situated adjacent to a pair of optically clear transverse windows spatially bounding a lasing zone of a dye laser amplifier; an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each of said fibers having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of each said optical fibers secured within said relay housing, said distal end of each of said optical fibers coupled to an energy source, said energy source having means for producing dye molecule excitation energy, said dye molecule excitation energy directed through each of said optical fibers such that said dye molecule excitation energy emerges at said proximal end thereof as a fiber output beam; an optical shaping array including a plurality of optical components, said optical shaping array operating on each of said fiber output beams to form a focused beam, said focused beam including an illumination bar segment having substantially uniform intensity in a three dimensional volume corresponding to said lasing zone.

Claim 19

The fiber optic relay structure of claim 15 wherein said optical fiber array is situated such that said optical fibers are held with said proximal ends thereof coplanar with a plane corresponding to the major axis of lasing zone; and said proximal ends of said optical fibers are convergingly angled so as to be directed at a common point.

Claim 20

The fiber optic relay structure of claim 15 wherein said relay housing includes a pair of vertically opposing mounting plates for retaining said proximal end of each of said optical fibers therebetween.

Claim 21

The fiber optic relay structure of claim 15 wherein said lasing zone has a rectangular transverse cross section and said optical shaping array includes cylindrical optical elements adapted to form said illumination bar to have a transverse cross section substantially congruent with that of lasing zone at the interface between said illumination bar and said lasing zone.

Claim 22

The fiber optic relay structure of claim 15 wherein said optical fiber array is formed such that outermost fibers thereof are aimed such that said fiber output beams corresponding thereto are aimed at a position at an opposing end of said transverse lasing windows.

Claim 23

The fiber optic relay structure of claim 15 wherein said optical shaping array includes a spherical telescope.