US3949320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature crystalline laser
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1974-11-29
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An optically pumped crystalline laser that includes a small single crystal section of a polygonal cylinder; the dimensions of the crystal section and the index of refraction of the crystal and the medium surrounding the crystal are such that there is formed a dielectric resonator that is totally reflective for a small number of modes. The material of which the crystal section is composed is one that is capable of being made optically thick in thin sections. The resonator is optically pumped and the lasing radiation therein is coupled to an optical element that is placed in close proximity thereto by virtue of an evanescent field that arises from the lasing action in the resonator.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Castleberry
- 👤 Hans P. Jenssen
- 👤 Arthur Linz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/0933; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0627; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An optically pumped crystalline laser system that comprises: a polygonal cylindrical section of an insulating single crystal laser material, the dimensions of the cylindrical section and the index of refraction of the laser material and the medium surrounding the crystalline section being such that there is provided a dielectric resonator that is substantially totally internally reflective for a small number of modes, the laser material of which the crystal section is composed being one that is capable of being made optically thick for pump light in thin sections to effect lasing therein; an optical transmission element in close proximity to the crystal section to permit coupling by virtue of an evanescent field that arises from lasing action in the dielectric resonator; and means for optically pumping said laser material to effect lasing therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An optically pumped crystalline laser system that comprises: a polygonal cylindrical section of an insulating single crystal laser material, the dimensions of the cylindrical section and the index of refraction of the laser material and the medium surrounding the crystalline section being such that there is provided a dielectric resonator that is substantially totally internally reflective for a small number of modes, the laser material of which the crystal section is composed being one that is capable of being made optically thick for pump light in thin sections to effect lasing therein; an optical transmission element in close proximity to the crystal section to permit coupling by virtue of an evanescent field that arises from lasing action in the dielectric resonator; and means for optically pumping said laser material to effect lasing therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optically pumped crystalline laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dimension of the dielectric resonator together with the characteristics of the coupling mechanism to the optical transmission element are chosen to provide single mode operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optically pumped crystalline laser as claimed in claim 1 in which the optical transmission element is an optical waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1 in which said laser material comprises a host crystal that contains transition metal activator ions and that will accept, without quenching, large concentrations of said transition metal activator ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laser as claimed in claim 4 in which said laser material is a host crystal taken from the group consisting essentially of fluorides and other halides, and oxides and in which the host crystal contains large quantities of activator ions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1 in which said laser material comprises a host crystal which contain sensitizer ions and activator ions and which will accept large concentrations of said sensitizer ions with efficient energy transfer to small concentrations of said activator ions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laser as claimed in claim 6 in which said laser material is LiY.sub.(1 -x ) RE x F 4 , wherein 0 < x < 1 and RE comprises a rare earth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A laser as claimed in claim 6 in which said laser material is CaY 2 (1 -x ) RE 2x Mg 2 (1 -y ) M 2y Ge 3 O 12 , wherein 0 < x < 1, 0 < y < 1, RE comprises a rare earth and M comprises a transition metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1 having a thin layer of dielectric covering at least one surface of the polygonal cylindrical section to change the mode structure of the resonator, the index of refraction of the layer being different from the index of refraction of the laser material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser as claimed in claim 9 in which there is a thin layer of dielectric material covering each surface of the polygonal cylindrical section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for optically pumping is a light-emitting diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser as claimed in claim 11 in which the light-emitting diode is bonded to the resonator to form an integrated unit comprising a miniature laser and pump.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1 in which said laser material is a host crystal that contains rare earth activator ions and that will accept, without quenching, large concentrations of said rare earth activator ions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A laser as claimed in claim 13 in which the host crystal is La.sub.(1 -x ) RE x P 5 O 14 , wherein 0 < x < 1, and RE is a rare earth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A laser as claimed in claim 14 in which RE is Nd.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laser as claimed in claim 13 in which the host crystal is La.sub.(1 -x ) RE x P 5 O 14 , wherein 0 < x < 1 and RE is a combination of rare earths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optically pumped miniature laser system that comprises: a section of single crystal laser material, the dimensions of the crystal section, the index of refraction of the laser material, and the index of refraction of the medium surrounding the section of laser material being such that there is provided a resonator that is substantially totally internally reflective for a small number of modes, the material of which the crystal section is composed being one that is capable of being made optically thick for pump light in thin sections to effect lasing therein; an optical transmission element in close proximity to the crystal section to permit coupling to the lasing radiation in the resonator; and means for optically pumping said laser material to effect lasing therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optically pumped miniature laser system that comprises: a section of single crystal laser material, the dimensions of the crystal section, the index of refraction of the laser material, and the index of refraction of the medium surrounding the section of laser material being such that there is provided a resonator that is substantially totally internally reflective for a small number of modes, the material of which the crystal section is composed being one that is capable of being made optically thick for pump light in thin sections to effect lasing therein; an optical transmission element in close proximity to the crystal section to permit coupling to the lasing radiation in the resonator; and means for optically pumping said laser material to effect lasing therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A miniature laser system as claimed in claim 17 in which the parameters of the resonator are chosen, in combination with characteristics of the coupling mechanism to the optical transmission element, to give single-mode operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A miniature laser system as claimed in claim 18 in which the optical element is an optical transmission waveguide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3760297A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |