US5502737A
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Laser cavity passively switched by a saturable absorber and laser incorporating said cavity
Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
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Filing: 1994-11-14
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Granted: 1996-03-26
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Expires: 2014-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A laser cavity with passive switching by a saturable absorber and a laser incorporating the cavity. The laser cavity has a solid, active material saturable absorber, an entrance mirror and an exit mirror. The saturable absorber is a thin film of saturable absorber material directly deposited on the solid, active medium. The laser incorporates such cavity and a mechanism for pumping the cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Isabelle Chartier
- 👤 Bernard Ferrand
- 👤 Denis Pelenc
- 👤 Christophe Wyon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/113; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3523; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0612; H01S3/0615; H01S3/0627; H01S3/063; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094084; H01S3/0941; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/1603; H01S3/1608; H01S3/161; H01S3/1611; H01S3/1616; H01S3/1618; H01S3/163; H01S3/1631; H01S3/1635; H01S3/164; H01S3/1643; H01S3/1645; H01S3/1653; H01S3/1655; H01S3/1661; H01S3/1671; H01S3/1673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A laser cavity, which comprises: a solid, active laser medium, a saturable absorber, an entrance mirror and an exit mirror, wherein the saturable absorber comprises a thin saturable absorber material film deposited directly on the solid, active medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A laser cavity, which comprises: a solid, active laser medium, a saturable absorber, an entrance mirror and an exit mirror, wherein the saturable absorber comprises a thin saturable absorber material film deposited directly on the solid, active medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Laser cavity according to claim 1, wherein the thin film is obtained by liquid phase epitaxy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Laser cavity according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the refractive index of the saturable absorber film is adapted to the refractive index of the solid, active medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Laser cavity according to claim 3, wherein the thin film is formed from a base material having an identical or similar crystal structure to that of the solid, active medium and wherein said base material is doped with one of erbium, chromium, thulium and holmium ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Laser cavity according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the cavity exit mirror is directly deposited on the saturable absorber film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Laser cavity according to claim 5, wherein the entrance mirror is directly deposited on the solid, active medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Laser cavity according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the cavity includes a waveguide structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
Laser cavity according to claim 7, wherein the active laser material comprises a first film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Laser cavity according to claim 8, wherein the saturable absorber film is located between the first active laser medium film and a second active laser medium film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Laser cavity according to claim 9, wherein the two active laser medium films are deposited by liquid phase epitaxy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Laser cavity according to claim 9, wherein the three thin films have an index gradient so as to optimize guidance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
Laser cavity according to claim 11, wherein the saturable absorber film is formed from a base material having an identical or similar crystal structure to that of the solid, active medium, and wherein said base material is doped with ions selected from the group consisting of erbium, chromium, thulium or holmium ions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser incorporating a laser cavity according to one of claims 1 or 2 and including cavity pumping means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser incorporating a laser cavity according to one of claims 1 or 2 and including a cavity pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
Laser cavity incorporating a solid, active laser medium, a saturable absorber, an entrance mirror and an exit mirror, wherein the saturable absorber comprises a thin saturable absorber material film, the cavity having a waveguide structure and wherein the active medium and saturable absorber comprise a single film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
Laser cavity incorporating a solid, active laser medium, a saturable absorber, an entrance mirror and an exit mirror, wherein the saturable absorber comprises a thin saturable absorber material film, the cavity having a waveguide structure and wherein the active medium and saturable absorber comprise a single film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
Laser cavity according to claim 15, wherein the film is obtained by liquid phase epitaxy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
Laser cavity according to claim 16, wherein the single film comprises a base material, doped with a first and second type of ions, the first ion type providing active laser medium properties and the second type providing saturable absorber properties.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Laser cavity according to claim 17, wherein the index of the film is adapted by Ga doping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-26 | 1999-09-25 | 2000-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-26 | 2003-09-25 | 2004-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-26 | 2007-09-25 | 2008-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |