US5541946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser with multiple gain elements pumped by a single excitation source
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1994-10-31
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Granted: 1996-07-30
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Expires: 2014-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A laser produces laser emission at two or more wavelengths simultaneously.he laser includes at least two gain elements, and each gain element generates a different wavelength. A single optical pumping source is used for optically exciting all laser gain elements contained within the laser resonator cavity. A wavelength dispersing element such as a prism is disposed in the laser resonator cavity for dispersing the wavelengths operating simultaneously within the laser resonator cavity and to create separate regions for each laser gain element. Laser gain elements may be tunable laser gain elements or discretely emitting laser gain elements. Arbitrarily large wavelength separations between the wavelengths operating simultaneously may be achieved in this manner to produce stable cw or pulsed output, which may be Q-switched or line narrowed. Intracavity sum frequency generation can be produced efficiently by using a non-linear sum frequency generating crystal disposed at a laser resonator cavity waist. The multiple gain elements may be of different materials or the same material.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Scheps
- 👤 Joseph F. Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/082; H01S3/0823; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/06; H01S3/07; H01S3/08086; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A laser producing optical emission at two wavelengths simultaneously comprising: a laser resonator for said optical emission defining a laser resonator cavity, said laser resonator including two highly reflective end elements, three highly reflective concave fold mirror elements, and an output coupler reflective element arranged to form a reflective path defining said laser resonator cavity therebetween; a dispersing prism disposed in said laser resonator cavity to spatially disperse said optical emission at two wavelengths, said dispersing prism and one of said two highly reflective end elements being arranged to define a first path that is resonant for light at one of said two wavelengths, and said dispersing prism and the other of said two highly reflective end elements being arranged to define a second path that is resonant for light at the other of said two wavelengths; a first laser gain element disposed in said first path and a second laser gain element disposed in said second path, each laser gain element being aligned to emit light at a different one of said two wavelengths; and means comprising a single pump laser for optically exciting said first and second laser gain elements by end pumping.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A laser producing optical emission at two wavelengths simultaneously comprising: a laser resonator for said optical emission defining a laser resonator cavity, said laser resonator including two highly reflective end elements, three highly reflective concave fold mirror elements, and an output coupler reflective element arranged to form a reflective path defining said laser resonator cavity therebetween; a dispersing prism disposed in said laser resonator cavity to spatially disperse said optical emission at two wavelengths, said dispersing prism and one of said two highly reflective end elements being arranged to define a first path that is resonant for light at one of said two wavelengths, and said dispersing prism and the other of said two highly reflective end elements being arranged to define a second path that is resonant for light at the other of said two wavelengths; a first laser gain element disposed in said first path and a second laser gain element disposed in said second path, each laser gain element being aligned to emit light at a different one of said two wavelengths; and means comprising a single pump laser for optically exciting said first and second laser gain elements by end pumping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser of claim 1 in which said light at one of said two wavelengths end pumps one of said first and second laser gain elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser of claim 2 further including: means for directing the optical emission at said one wavelength to said one laser gain element, said output coupler reflective element being coated to be partially transmissive for said one wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The laser of claim 3 in which one of said two wavelengths is between 800 nm and 820 nm, the other of said two wavelengths is approximately 1.06 μ, and one of said first and second laser gain elements is Nd 3+ -doped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The laser of claim 1 in which one of said two highly reflective end elements is a highly reflective coating deposited on an exterior face of one of said two laser gain element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 5 in which said highly reflective coating transmits light at one of said two wavelengths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 1 in which said first and second laser gain elements are end pumped by light at the same wavelength.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 7 in which said first and second laser gain elements are doped with Cr 3+ ions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The laser of claim 8 in which one of said first and second laser gain elements is co-doped with Nd 3+ and Cr 3+ ions and has the property to emit radiation at approximately 1.06 μ, and the other of said first and second laser gain elements has the property of emitting radiation at one wavelength between 800 nm to 820 nm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser of claim 1 further including: means disposed in said laser resonator cavity for narrowing the linewidth at one wavelength operating simultaneously in said laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser of claim 1 further including: means disposed in said laser resonator cavity for suppressing oscillation of one radiation at one wavelength within said laser resonator cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser of claim 1 in which one laser gain element includes a host material doped with activator ions to produce a laser emission at one of said two wavelengths when it is optically excited by end pumping.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser of claim 12 in which the concentration of said activator ions in said host material is adjusted to produce high efficiency for said laser emission at said one of said two wavelengths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser of claim 12 in which said first and second laser gain elements are composed of similar activator ions in a similar host.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 14 in which the concentration of said activator ions in each said host is different.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The laser of claim 12 in which said activator ions in said host include ions in an effective percentage concentration between approximately 0.1% and 100% by weight, and said host is selected from a group consisting of alexandrite, LiCAF, LiSAF, LiSGAF and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The laser of claim 1 in which said means for optically exciting said first laser gain element and said second laser gain element is a pump laser emitting a cw pump beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser of claim 17 in which said means for optically exciting is a laser diode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The laser of claim 1 in which said means for optically exciting said first laser gain element and said second laser gain element is a pump laser emitting a pulsed pump beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser of claim 19 in which said means for optically exciting is a laser diode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The laser of claim 1 further including: means disposed within said laser resonator cavity for producing sum frequency generation, the sum frequency generating means being disposed at a laser resonator cavity waist.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser of claim 21 in which said sum frequency generating means is a KTP crystal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laser of claim 1 in which one of said two wavelengths is approximately 1.06 μ and the other of said two wavelengths is approximately 808 nm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser of claim 23 further including: a non-critically phased match KTP crystal disposed in the proximity of a laser resonator cavity waist to provide sum frequency generation of said two wavelengths and produce laser emission at about 459 nm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |