US4227159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Common-resonator pre-locked laser
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1978-01-24
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1998-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A common-resonator pre-locked laser is formed by a jet stream dye pumped simultaneously by a CW laser and a pulsed laser. Laser pulses with greater than 100 W peak power in a band width of less than about 54 MHz are produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J. Barrett
- 👤 Otis G. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094034; H01S3/094026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A common resonator pre-locked laser comprising an optical resonator resonant at a given wavelength; an active medium having an emission band coincident with said wavelength placed in the resonator; first pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively low power optical radiation within a corresponding absorption band of said active medium to produce a population inversion of optically excitable states within said emission band for generating stimulated emission of radiation; and second pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively high power optical radiation within said absorption band to generate strong laser radiation at said wavelength in the active medium; said resonator including means for coupling radiation of said wavelength out of said resonator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A common resonator pre-locked laser comprising an optical resonator resonant at a given wavelength; an active medium having an emission band coincident with said wavelength placed in the resonator; first pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively low power optical radiation within a corresponding absorption band of said active medium to produce a population inversion of optically excitable states within said emission band for generating stimulated emission of radiation; and second pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively high power optical radiation within said absorption band to generate strong laser radiation at said wavelength in the active medium; said resonator including means for coupling radiation of said wavelength out of said resonator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a Q-switch and wherein the first pumping means is provided by a pumping laser partially activated by the Q-switch; and wherein the second pumping means is provided by the pumping laser fuller activated by the Q-switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 2 wherein the Q-switch is an acousto-optic modulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pumping laser is a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 4 wherein the active medium comprises a first and a second section, said first section including a dye and second section including a ruby crystal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the active medium is a lasing dye included in at least one dye volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 6 wherein said dye is included in more than one dye volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first pumping means is an argon laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second pumping means is a frequency doubled neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 including an etalon tuned to said wavelength, said etalon being located within said common resonator for suppressing oscillations at frequencies other than that of said given wavelength generated by the first pumping means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the active medium is a molecular gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the active medium is a solid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 12 wherein the active medium comprises a first and second section, said first section including a Nd:YAG crystal and said second section including neodymium glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second pumping means is a flashlamp pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the active medium is formed by diodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 15 wherein the active medium comprises a first and second section, said first section including a diode and said second section including a dye.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein two lasers are employed as first and second pumping means having a suitable overlap of lasing wavelength with the excited states of the active medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the active medium comprises parametrically combined lasers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first pumping means provides a peak power of between about 0.5 watts and 5 watts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second pumping means provides a peak power of between about 50 watts and 100 megawatts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stimulated emission of radiation generated by the first pumping means starts at least at a time which is threefold the pulse duration before the onset of the second pumping means power pulse.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
A common resonator pre-locked laser comprising (a) an optical resonator; (b) an active medium placed in said optical resonator; (c) a pumping laser for optically pumping said active medium, said pumping laser including a Q-switch to provide a pump beam having a relatively low power for a first time period and a substantially higher power for a second time period immediately following said first time period so as to produce a population inversion of optically excitable states in the active medium for generating stimulated emission of radiation of a given wavelength of low power during said first time period followed by a proportionately higher power emission of radiation at said wavelength during said second time period; and means for coupling said radiation out of said resonator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
A common resonator pre-locked laser comprising (a) an optical resonator; (b) an active medium placed in said optical resonator; (c) a pumping laser for optically pumping said active medium, said pumping laser including a Q-switch to provide a pump beam having a relatively low power for a first time period and a substantially higher power for a second time period immediately following said first time period so as to produce a population inversion of optically excitable states in the active medium for generating stimulated emission of radiation of a given wavelength of low power during said first time period followed by a proportionately higher power emission of radiation at said wavelength during said second time period; and means for coupling said radiation out of said resonator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The common resonator pre-locked laser as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first time period is between about 2 and 10 microseconds.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for generating high power narrow band laser radiation comprising (a) injecting into an optical resonator, resonant at a given wavelength and containing an active medium having an emission band coincident with said wavelength, radiation from a first pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively low power optical radiation within a corresponding absorption band of said active medium to produce a population inversion of optically excitable states within said emission band for generating stimulated emission of radiation; (b) injecting into said optical resonator radiation from a second pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively high power optical radiation within said absorption band to generate strong laser radiation at said wavelength in the active medium; and (c) decoupling the radiation from said resonator.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for generating high power narrow band laser radiation comprising (a) injecting into an optical resonator, resonant at a given wavelength and containing an active medium having an emission band coincident with said wavelength, radiation from a first pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively low power optical radiation within a corresponding absorption band of said active medium to produce a population inversion of optically excitable states within said emission band for generating stimulated emission of radiation; (b) injecting into said optical resonator radiation from a second pumping means for pumping the full extent of said active medium with relatively high power optical radiation within said absorption band to generate strong laser radiation at said wavelength in the active medium; and (c) decoupling the radiation from said resonator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the first pumping means increases as a ramp function merging in time with the second pumping means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein said first pumping means is a CW laser.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the injected radiation from the first pumping means is laser radiation controlled by an acousto-optic modulator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3319182A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |