US5745284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solid-state laser source of tunable narrow-bandwidth ultraviolet radiation
Assignee: NAVY USA THE, Secretary of
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Filing: 1996-05-01
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2016-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A solid-state laser source of tunable and narrow-bandwidth UV light is disclosed. The system relies on light from a diode laser that preferably generates light at infrared frequencies. The light from the seed diode laser is pulse amplified in a light amplifier, and converted into the ultraviolet by frequency tripling, quadrupling, or quintupling the infrared light. The narrow bandwidth, or relatively pure light, of the seed laser is preserved, and the pulse amplifier generates high peak light powers to increase the efficiency of the nonlinear crystals in the frequency conversion stage. Higher output powers may be obtained by adding a fiber amplifier to power amplify the pulsed laser light prior to conversion.
Inventors
- 👤 Lew Goldberg
- 👤 Dahv A.V. Kliner
- 👤 Jeffrey P. Koplow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70383; G03F7/704; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/37; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/50; G02F1/3501; G02F1/3507; G02F1/353; G02F1/354; H01S2301/00; H01S2301/03; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06708; H01S3/06712; H01S3/06754; H01S3/10; H01S5/005; H01S5/0064; H01S5/0085; H01S5/10; H01S5/1003; H01S5/1014; H01S5/14; H01S5/141; H01S5/146; H01S5/40; H01S5/4006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light and is isolated from the tunable diode laser; and a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light and is isolated from the tunable diode laser; and a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, wherein the diode laser is a continuous wave laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, further comprising a pulse generator which drives the optical amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, wherein the optical amplifier is a tapered amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, wherein the frequency conversion stage doubles and triples the laser light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 5, wherein the frequency conversion stage comprises KNbO 3 and ADA crystals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, wherein the frequency conversion stage doubles and quadruples the laser light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 7, wherein the frequency conversion stage comprises KNbO 3 and BBO crystals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light; a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; and a power optical amplifier which amplifies the pulsed laser light from the pulsed optical amplifier prior to reception by the frequency conversion stage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light; a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; and a power optical amplifier which amplifies the pulsed laser light from the pulsed optical amplifier prior to reception by the frequency conversion stage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser system as described in claim 9, wherein the power amplifier is a fiber amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A laser system as described in claim 10, further comprising a beam splitter for coupling the pulsed laser light from the pulsed optical amplifier into the fiber amplifier, and for output coupling the beam from the fiber amplifier to the frequency conversion stage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser system as described in claim 10, further comprising an acousto-optic filter for the fiber amplifier, which is synchronized to the pulsed optical amplifier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 10, further comprising a laser diode array for pumping the fiber amplifier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser system as described in claim 10, wherein the frequency conversion stage frequency quintuples the light from the fiber amplifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light; a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; a detector which senses the ultraviolet light; and a controller which tunes the diode laser on and off an absorption band of a species of interest and determines a presence of the species in response to light detected by the detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light; a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; a detector which senses the ultraviolet light; and a controller which tunes the diode laser on and off an absorption band of a species of interest and determines a presence of the species in response to light detected by the detector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser system as described in claim 15, wherein the detector is tuned to a wavelength of the laser light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser system as described in claim 15, wherein the detector is tuned to a wavelength of light that the species generates by fluorescence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, wherein the diode laser amplitude and/or frequency modulates the laser light.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
39 words
A method for generating ultraviolet light, comprising: generating laser light with a tunable diode laser; pulse amplifying the laser light; isolating the laser light generation from the pulse amplification; and frequency converting the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
39 words
A method for generating ultraviolet light, comprising: generating laser light with a tunable diode laser; pulse amplifying the laser light; isolating the laser light generation from the pulse amplification; and frequency converting the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as described in claim 19, further comprising pulse amplifying the laser light with a tapered optical amplifier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described in claim 19, further comprising driving the pulse amplifier with a pulse generator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 19, wherein the step of frequency converting the pulse laser light comprises: frequency doubling the laser light; and then frequency tripling the laser light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 19, wherein the step of frequency converting the pulse laser light comprises: frequency doubling the laser light; and then frequency quadrupling the laser light.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for generating ultraviolet light, comprising: generating laser light with a tunable diode laser: pulse amplifying the laser light; frequency converting the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; and tuning a frequency of the laser light on an off of an absorption feature of a chemical species.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for generating ultraviolet light, comprising: generating laser light with a tunable diode laser: pulse amplifying the laser light; frequency converting the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; and tuning a frequency of the laser light on an off of an absorption feature of a chemical species.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as described in claim 24, further comprising detecting light absorbed by the chemical species.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as described in claim 24, further comprising detecting light generated by fluorescence by the chemical species.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for generating ultraviolet light, comprising: generating laser light with a tunable diode laser; pulse amplifying the laser light; frequency converting the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; and power amplifying the pulsed laser light prior to the frequency conversion.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for generating ultraviolet light, comprising: generating laser light with a tunable diode laser; pulse amplifying the laser light; frequency converting the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; and power amplifying the pulsed laser light prior to the frequency conversion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as described in claim 27, wherein the step of amplifying the pulsed laser light comprises amplifying the pulsed laser light in a fiber amplifier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as described in claim 27, further comprising time-domain filtering the pulsed laser light from the fiber amplifier to suppress amplified spontaneous emission.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as described in claim 19, wherein the step of frequency converting the laser light comprises frequency quintupling the pulsed laser light.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as described in claim 30, wherein the step of frequency quintupling comprises: generating a second harmonic of a fundamental of the pulsed laser light; generating a fourth harmonic of the fundamental; and mixing the fundamental with the fourth harmonic to generate a fifth harmonic.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
79 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light; a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; a detector which senses the ultra-violet light; and a controller which tunes the diode laser on and off an absorption band of a species of interest and determines a presence of the species in response to light detected by the detector.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
79 words
A solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser system, comprising: a tunable diode laser which generates laser light; a pulsed optical amplifier which pulse amplifies the laser light; a frequency conversion stage which converts the pulsed laser light into ultraviolet light; a detector which senses the ultra-violet light; and a controller which tunes the diode laser on and off an absorption band of a species of interest and determines a presence of the species in response to light detected by the detector.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser system comprising: a pulsed seed laser source, which generates amplitude modulated laser light; a fiber amplifier, which power amplifies the amplitude modulated laser light; and a frequency conversion stage, which converts the amplified laser light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser system comprising: a pulsed seed laser source, which generates amplitude modulated laser light; a fiber amplifier, which power amplifies the amplitude modulated laser light; and a frequency conversion stage, which converts the amplified laser light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
A laser system as described in claim 33, wherein the pulsed seed laser source comprises: a continuous wave diode seed laser, which generates laser light; and an amplitude modulator, which amplitude modulates the laser light.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as described in claim 34, wherein the amplitude modulator comprises an electro-optic or acousto-optic modulator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser system as described in claim 33, wherein the pulsed seed laser source comprises a pulsed distributed feedback laser.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laser system, comprising: a pulsed seed laser source, which generates amplitude modulated laser light; a fiber amplifier, which power amplifies the amplitude modulated laser light; a frequency conversion stage, which converts the amplified laser light into ultraviolet light; and an acousto-optic filter, which suppresses amplified spontaneous emission in the fiber amplifier.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laser system, comprising: a pulsed seed laser source, which generates amplitude modulated laser light; a fiber amplifier, which power amplifies the amplitude modulated laser light; a frequency conversion stage, which converts the amplified laser light into ultraviolet light; and an acousto-optic filter, which suppresses amplified spontaneous emission in the fiber amplifier.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser system as described in claim 37, wherein the acousto-optic filter is synchronized with the pulsed seed laser source.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser system as described in claim 33, wherein the frequency conversion stage comprises three frequency conversion crystals for successively receiving the light from the fiber amplifier.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as described in claim 33, further comprising a saturable absorber for suppressing amplified spontaneous emission.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser system as described in claim 33, wherein the pulsed seed laser source is a pulsed diode laser.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser system as described in claim 34 wherein the amplitude modulator is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, further comprising an isolator between the diode laser and the pulsed optical amplifier.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser system as described in claim 9, further comprising an isolator between the diode laser and the pulsed optical amplifier.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser system as described in claim 34, further comprising an optical isolator between the continuous wave diode seed laser and the amplitude modulator.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser system as described in claim 33, further comprising a filter which suppresses amplified spontaneous emission in the fiber amplifier.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser system as described in claim 46, wherein the filter is a frequency-domain filter.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser system as described in claim 46, wherein the filter is a time-domain filter.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser system as described in claim 46, wherein the filter is an saturable absorber filter.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser system as described in claim 46, wherein the filter is an acousto-optic filter.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser system as described in claim 1, further comprising a pulse generator that drives the optical amplifier with a duty cycle less than 20%.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |