US4809291A — Diode pumped laser and doubling to obtain blue li…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

In a method for generating coherent blue light, the steps of: generating a beam of optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; directing the beam of optical pumping radiation derived from the diode into a Nd 3+ doped member of lasant material disposed in an optical resonator for efficient, optical pumping of the lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength in the range of 0.870-0.960 μm; reflecting the lasant radiation at said second wavelength between reflectors of said optical resonator containing said member of lasant material and through said optically pumped member of lasant material for exciting said optical resonator with coherent, optical radiation at said second wavelength; and interacting the coherent, optical radiation at said second wavelength with a non-linear, electro-optic material within an optical resonator to generate coherent, optical radiation at a third wavelength which is the second harmonic of said second wavelength, thereby producing coherent blue light.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

In a method for generating coherent blue light, the steps of: generating a beam of optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; directing the beam of optical pumping radiation derived from the diode into a Nd 3+ doped member of lasant material disposed in an optical resonator for efficient, optical pumping of the lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength in the range of 0.870-0.960 μm; reflecting the lasant radiation at said second wavelength between reflectors of said optical resonator containing said member of lasant material and through said optically pumped member of lasant material for exciting said optical resonator with coherent, optical radiation at said second wavelength; and interacting the coherent, optical radiation at said second wavelength with a non-linear, electro-optic material within an optical resonator to generate coherent, optical radiation at a third wavelength which is the second harmonic of said second wavelength, thereby producing coherent blue light.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of selecting the member of lasant material from the group consisting of Nd:YAlO 3 , Nd:Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , Nd:Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 , Nd:LiFY 4 , NdP 5 O 12 , and Nd 3+ doped garnets.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of selecting the non-linear, optical material from the group consisting of KNbO 3 , KTiOPO 4 , periodically poled LiNbO 3 , β-BaB 2 O 4 , and LiIO 3 .

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of cooling the member of lasant material to below room temperature.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of controlling the temperature of the non-linear, electro-optic material for maintaining phase matched doubling operating with the lasant radiation at the second wavelength.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of selecting said optical pumping radiation to have a wavelength in the range of 0.750 to 0.860 μm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of selecting said diode from the group consisting of GaAlAs and GaAs diode lasers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of making the pathlength through the lasant material on the optical axis of the resonator to be in the range of 0.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters and directing the pump radiation collinearly of the optical axis of the optical resonator.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 including the step of containing said non-linear, electro-optic material in one optical resonator and exciting said one optical resonator with lasant radiation derived from another optical resonator containing said lasant material.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for harmonically generating coherent blue light from a non-linear electro-optic material: diode means for generating a beam of coherent, optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; a member of Nd 3+ doped lasant material disposed to receive the beam of optical pumping radiation for optical pumping of said member of lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength within the range of 0.870 to 0.960 μm; optical resonator means optically coupled to the lasant radiation at said second wavelength for exciting said optical resonator with coherent optical radiation at said second wavelength; and non-linear, electro-optic means disposed in said optical resonator means for non-linear, electro-optic interaction with the coherent optical radiation at said second wavelength to generate coherent optical radiation at the second harmonic of said second wavelength, thereby producing coherent blue light.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for harmonically generating coherent blue light from a non-linear electro-optic material: diode means for generating a beam of coherent, optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; a member of Nd 3+ doped lasant material disposed to receive the beam of optical pumping radiation for optical pumping of said member of lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength within the range of 0.870 to 0.960 μm; optical resonator means optically coupled to the lasant radiation at said second wavelength for exciting said optical resonator with coherent optical radiation at said second wavelength; and non-linear, electro-optic means disposed in said optical resonator means for non-linear, electro-optic interaction with the coherent optical radiation at said second wavelength to generate coherent optical radiation at the second harmonic of said second wavelength, thereby producing coherent blue light.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said member of lasant material is selected from the group consisting of Nd:YAlO 3 , Nd:Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , Nd:Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 , Nd:LiYF 4 , NdP 5 O 12 , and Nd 3+ doped garnets.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said non-linear, electro-optic material is selected from the group consisting of KNbO 3 , KTiOPO 4 , periodically poled LiNbO 3 , β-BaB 2 O 4 , and LiIO 3 .

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 10 including means for cooling the member of lasant material to below room temperature.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 10 including means for controlling the temperature of the non-linear, electro-optic material for maintaining phase match doubling operation with the lasant radiation at the second wavelength.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said optical pumping radiation has a wavelength in the range of 0.750 to 0.860 μm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said diode is selected from the group consisting of GaAlAs and GaAs diode lasers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lasant material is disposed in an optical resonator means and the pathlength through the lasant material on the optical axis of said optical resonator means is chosen to be in the range of 0.5 mm to 3 mm and the pump radiation is directed generally collinearly of the optical axis of said optical resonator means containing said lasant material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 10 including second optical resonator means containing said lasant material, and said optical resonator means containing said non-linear, electro-optic material is optically coupled to and excited by lasant radiation derived from said second optical resonator means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 133 words

In a method for generating coherent infrared light, the steps of: generating a beam of optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; directing the beam of optical pumping radiation derived from the diode into a Nd 3+ doped member of lasant material disposed in an optical resonator for efficient optical pumping of the lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength in the range of 0.870-0.960 μm; and reflecting the lasant radiation at said second wavelength between reflectors of said optical resonator containing said member of lasant material and through said optically pumped member of lasant material for exciting said optical resonator with coherent, optical radiation at said second wavelength.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 133 words

In a method for generating coherent infrared light, the steps of: generating a beam of optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; directing the beam of optical pumping radiation derived from the diode into a Nd 3+ doped member of lasant material disposed in an optical resonator for efficient optical pumping of the lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength in the range of 0.870-0.960 μm; and reflecting the lasant radiation at said second wavelength between reflectors of said optical resonator containing said member of lasant material and through said optically pumped member of lasant material for exciting said optical resonator with coherent, optical radiation at said second wavelength.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 112 words

An apparatus for generating coherent, infrared light: diode means for generating a beam of coherent, optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; a member of Nd 3+ doped lasant material disposed to receive the beam of optical pumping radiation for optical pumping of said member of lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength within the range of 0.870 to 0.960 μm; and optical resonator means optically coupled to the lasant radiation at said second wavelength for exciting said optical resonator with coherent optical radiation at said second wavelength.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 112 words

An apparatus for generating coherent, infrared light: diode means for generating a beam of coherent, optical pumping radiation of a first optical wavelength from a semiconductive diode; a member of Nd 3+ doped lasant material disposed to receive the beam of optical pumping radiation for optical pumping of said member of lasant material to excite optical lasant radiation at a second wavelength corresponding to the 4 F 3/2 - 4 I 9/2 laser transition having a wavelength within the range of 0.870 to 0.960 μm; and optical resonator means optically coupled to the lasant radiation at said second wavelength for exciting said optical resonator with coherent optical radiation at said second wavelength.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-02-28	1992-08-29	1993-02-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-02-28	1996-08-29	1997-02-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-02-28	2000-08-29	2001-02-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Diode pumped laser and doubling to obtain blue light

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