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US5485482A
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Method for design and construction of efficient, fundamental transverse mode selected, diode pumped, solid state lasers
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1993-12-08
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Granted: 1996-01-16
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Expires: 2013-12-08
Abstract
Abstract An efficient, fundamental transverse mode selected, diode pumped, solid state laser is disclosed. The laser consists of a slab of laser gain material such as Nd:YLF. Cavity forming optics are positioned around the slab of laser gain material. A laser diode bar, collimated by a micro-lens is used for side pumping a constrained gain region in the slab of laser gain material, with the dimensions transverse to the direction of beam propagation of the constrained gain region being smaller in at least one axis than the transverse dimensions of the fundamental transverse mode volume in the laser gain material. The cavity forming optics and the side pumping of the constrained gain region act in conjunction such that the fundamental transverse mode is automatically selected in the solid state laser.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark D. Selker
- 👤 Robert S. Afzal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0606; H01S3/0612; H01S3/0619; H01S3/0625; H01S3/08; H01S3/08072; H01S3/08095; H01S3/094084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A fundamental transverse mode selected solid state laser comprising: a slab of laser gain material; cavity forming means positioned around said slab of laser gain material; means for side pumping a constrained gain region in said slab of laser gain material, the dimensions transverse to the direction of beam propagation of said constrained gain region being smaller in at least one axis than the transverse dimensions of the fundamental transverse mode volume in said laser gain material; said cavity forming means and said means for side pumping said constrained gain region acting in conjunction such that the fundamental transverse mode is selected in said solid state laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A fundamental transverse mode selected solid state laser comprising: a slab of laser gain material; cavity forming means positioned around said slab of laser gain material; means for side pumping a constrained gain region in said slab of laser gain material, the dimensions transverse to the direction of beam propagation of said constrained gain region being smaller in at least one axis than the transverse dimensions of the fundamental transverse mode volume in said laser gain material; said cavity forming means and said means for side pumping said constrained gain region acting in conjunction such that the fundamental transverse mode is selected in said solid state laser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said means for side pumping comprises laser diode pumping.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said laser diode pumping comprises a laser diode bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 3 wherein the beam emitted by said laser diode bar is collimated by a micro lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser of claim 4 wherein said laser diode bar is attached to a heat sink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said laser diode pumping comprises a pair of laser diode bars.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 6 wherein the beams emitted by said pair of laser diode bars are each collimated by a micro lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 7 wherein said pair of laser diode bars are each attached to a heat sink.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser of claim 3 further comprising a half-wave plate positioned between said laser diode bar and said laser gain material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said laser gain material is Nd:YLF.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said laser diode pumping comprises three or more laser diode bars attached to a heat sink whose beams are each collimated by micro lenses and focused on said laser gain material by a cylindrical lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said constrained gain region comprises doped host material surrounded on at least two sides by undoped host material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said constrained gain region comprises doped host material surrounded on four sides by undoped host material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser of claim 12 wherein said doped host material consists of Nd:YAG and said undoped host material consists of YAG.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said cavity forming means includes a Gaussian reflectivity mirror.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said slab of laser material comprises a zig-zag slab.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for fundamental transverse mode selection in a solid state laser comprising: positioning a cavity forming means around a slab of laser gain material; side pumping a constrained gain region in said slab of laser gain material with a side pumping means, the dimensions transverse to the direction of beam propagation of said constrained gain region being smaller in at least one axis than the transverse dimensions of the fundamental transverse mode volume in said laser gain material, such that said cavity forming means and said means for side pumping said constrained gain region act in conjunction such that the fundamental transverse mode is selected in said solid state laser.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for fundamental transverse mode selection in a solid state laser comprising: positioning a cavity forming means around a slab of laser gain material; side pumping a constrained gain region in said slab of laser gain material with a side pumping means, the dimensions transverse to the direction of beam propagation of said constrained gain region being smaller in at least one axis than the transverse dimensions of the fundamental transverse mode volume in said laser gain material, such that said cavity forming means and said means for side pumping said constrained gain region act in conjunction such that the fundamental transverse mode is selected in said solid state laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said means for side pumping comprises laser diode pumping.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said laser diode pumping comprises a laser diode bar.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising collimating the beam emitted by said laser diode bar by a micro lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said laser diode bar is attached to a heat sink.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said laser diode pumping comprises a pair of laser diode bars.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising collimating the beams emitted by said pair of laser diode bars by a micro lens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said pair of laser diode bars are each attached to a heat sink.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising positioning a half-wave plate between said laser diode bar and said laser gain material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said laser gain material is Nd:YLF.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said laser diode pumping comprises three or more laser diode bars attached to a heat sink whose beams are each collimated by micro lenses and focused on said laser gain material by a cylindrical lens.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said constrained gain region comprises doped host material surrounded on at least two sides by undoped host material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said constrained gain region comprises doped host material surrounded on four sides by undoped host material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said doped host material consists of Nd:YAG and said undoped host material consists of YAG.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said cavity forming means includes a Gaussian reflectivity mirror.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said slab of laser material comprises a zig-zag slab.
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