Master optical parametric oscillator/power optical parametric oscillator

Claim 2

A tunable laser system, comprising: a master optical parametric oscillator to generate a seed beam including means for limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.5 cm -1 over a tunable range of the master optical parametric oscillator; an unstable resonator including a high reflector and an output coupler set such that a focal point of the high reflector is about coincident with a virtual focus of the output coupler, coupled with the master optical parametric oscillator and injection seeded by the seed beam to generate an output beam; a laser source supplying an essentially single longitudinal mode pump beam to the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator to allow a generation of narrow band idler wavelengths similar to a generation of narrow band signal wavelengths; and tuning means, coupled to the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator, for cooperatively tuning the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator to select a wavelength of the output beam.

Claim 3

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a diffraction grating.

Claim 4

The laser system of claim 2, wherein the diffraction grating is optimized for tuning in the visible range.

Claim 5

The laser system of claim 3, wherein the means for limiting line width of the seed beam limits the line width of the output beam to less than about 0.2 cm -1 .

Claim 6

The laser system of claim 4, wherein the means for limiting line width of the seed beam limits line width of the output beam to less than about 0.05 cm -1 .

Claim 7

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the means for limiting line width of the seed beam causes the output beam to consist of essentially a single longitudinal mode.

Claim 8

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the means for limiting line width of the seed beam includes a tunable grating, operatively coupled with the tuning means, for limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.5 cm -1 .

Claim 9

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator include respective gain media comprising β-barium borate.

Claim 10

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the tuning means comprises tuning elements operable to select the wavelength of the output beam in a range from less than about 500 nanometers to more than about 1500 nanometers.

Claim 11

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the tuning means comprises tuning elements operable to select the wavelength of the output beam in a range from about 400 nanometers to about 2000 nanometers.

Claim 12

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the laser source comprises: an injection seeded Nd:YAG laser system.

Claim 13

The laser system of claim 11, wherein the injection seeded, Nd:YAG laser system includes a harmonic generator to generate a line narrowed pump beam.

Claim 14

The laser system of claim 12, wherein the pump beam has a wavelength of about 335 nanometers.

Claim 15

The laser system of claim 12, wherein the pump beam has a wavelength of about 266 nanometers.

Claim 16

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the unstable resonator comprises an unstable resonator.

Claim 17

The laser system of claim 1, wherein the unstable resonator comprises a positive branch, confocal unstable resonator.

Claim 18

A tunable laser system, comprising: a master optical parametric oscillator to generate a seed beam with a tunable wavelength, including an angle tunable gain medium mount to tune the wavelength of the seed beam through a range of about 400 to 700 nanometers, a gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount, and means for limiting line width of the seed beam through the tunable range; an unstable resonator including a high reflector and an output coupler set such that a focal point of the high reflector is about coincident with a virtual focus of the output coupler, coupled with the master optical parametric oscillator and injection seeded by the seed beam to generate an output beam with transverse mode selectivity and controlled output beam divergence, including an angle tunable gain medium mount and a gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount; an injection seeded, Nd:YAG laser supplying line narrowed pump beams to the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator to allow a generation of narrow band idler wavelengths similar to a generation of narrow band signal wavelengths; and tuning means, coupled to the tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator, for cooperatively tuning the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator to select a wavelength of the output beam.

Claim 19

A tunable laser system, comprising: a master optical parametric oscillator to generate a seed beam with a tunable wavelength, including an angle tunable gain medium mount to tune the wavelength of the seed beam through a range of about 400 to 700 nanometers, a gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount, and means for limiting line width of the seed beam through the tunable range; an unstable resonator including a high reflector and an output coupler set such that a focal point of the high reflector is about coincident with a virtual focus of the output coupler, coupled with the master optical parametric oscillator and injection seeded by the seed beam to generate an output beam with transverse mode selectivity and controlled output beam divergence, including an angle tunable gain medium mount and a gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount; an injection seeded, Nd:YAG laser supplying line narrowed pump beams to the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator to allow a generation of narrow band idler wavelengths similar to a generation of narrow band signal wavelengths; and tuning means, coupled to the tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator, for cooperatively tuning the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator to select a wavelength of the output beam.

Claim 20

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a wavelength selective element limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.5 cm -1 .

Claim 21

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a wavelength selective element limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.2 cm -1 .

Claim 22

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a wavelength selective element limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.05 cm -1 .

Claim 23

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the optical means for limiting line width includes a wavelength selective element limiting the line width of the seed beam so that the output beam consists of essentially a single longitudinal mode.

Claim 24

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the means for limiting line width includes a tunable grating, operatively coupled with the tuning means, for limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.5 cm -1 .

Claim 25

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the angle tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator and the tunable means for limiting line width are operable to select the wavelength of the output beam in a range from about 400 nanometers to more than about 1500 nanometers.

Claim 26

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the angle tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator and the tunable means for limiting line width are operable to select the wavelength of the output beam in a range from about 400 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers.

Claim 27

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the Nd:YAG laser includes a harmonic generator to generate the pump beams.

Claim 28

The laser system of claim 25, wherein the pump beams have a wavelength of about 335 nanometers.

Claim 29

The laser system of claim 25, wherein the pump beams have a wavelength of about 266 nanometers.

Claim 30

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the unstable resonator comprises a confocal unstable resonator.

Claim 31

The laser system of claim 17, wherein the unstable resonator comprises a positive branch, confocal unstable resonator.

Claim 32

A tunable laser system, comprising: a master optical parametric oscillator to generate a seed beam having a tunable range of wavelengths of about 400 to 700 nanometers, including an angle tunable gain medium mount and gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount; an unstable resonator including a high reflector and an output coupler set such that a focal point of the high reflector is about coincident with a virtual focus of the output coupler, coupled with the master optical parametric oscillator and injection seeded by the seed beam to generate an output beam with transverse mode selectivity and controlled output beam divergence, including an angle tunable gain medium mount and a gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount; means, mounted with the master optical parametric oscillator, for limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.5 cm -1 over the tunable range; means for supplying line-narrowed pulses of pump energy having a wavelength of about 355 nanometers to the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator to allow a generation of narrow band idler wavelengths similar to a generation of narrow band signal wavelengths; and tuning means, coupled to the tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator and to the means for limiting line width, for cooperatively tuning the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator to select a wavelength of the output beam in at least a range from about 400 nanometers to about 2000 nanometers.

Claim 33

A tunable laser system, comprising: a master optical parametric oscillator to generate a seed beam having a tunable range of wavelengths of about 400 to 700 nanometers, including an angle tunable gain medium mount and gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount; an unstable resonator including a high reflector and an output coupler set such that a focal point of the high reflector is about coincident with a virtual focus of the output coupler, coupled with the master optical parametric oscillator and injection seeded by the seed beam to generate an output beam with transverse mode selectivity and controlled output beam divergence, including an angle tunable gain medium mount and a gain medium comprising β-barium borate on the tunable mount; means, mounted with the master optical parametric oscillator, for limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.5 cm -1 over the tunable range; means for supplying line-narrowed pulses of pump energy having a wavelength of about 355 nanometers to the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator to allow a generation of narrow band idler wavelengths similar to a generation of narrow band signal wavelengths; and tuning means, coupled to the tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator and to the means for limiting line width, for cooperatively tuning the master optical parametric oscillator and the unstable resonator to select a wavelength of the output beam in at least a range from about 400 nanometers to about 2000 nanometers.

Claim 34

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the means for limiting line width includes a diffraction grating, operatively coupled with the tuning means.

Claim 35

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a wavelength selective element limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.2 cm -1 .

Claim 36

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a wavelength selective element limiting line width of the seed beam so that line width of the output beam is less than about 0.05 cm -1 .

Claim 37

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the means for limiting line width comprises a wavelength selective element limiting the line width of the seed beam so that the output beam consists of essentially a single longitudinal mode.

Claim 38

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the angle tunable gain medium mounts in the master optical parametric oscillator and unstable resonator and the means for limiting line width are operable to select the wavelength of the output beam in a range from about 400 nanometers to about 2000 nanometers.

Claim 39

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the means for supplying line narrowed pump energy comprises a laser oscillator having Nd:YAG gain medium and a harmonic generator to generate a pump beam.

Claim 40

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the unstable resonator comprises a confocal unstable resonator.

Claim 41

The laser system of claim 30, wherein the unstable resonator comprises a positive branch, confocal unstable resonator.