US4860304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid state microlaser
Assignee: LMASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY A MASSACHUSETTS CORP
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Filing: 1988-02-02
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Granted: 1989-08-22
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Expires: 2008-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A solid state gain medium is disposed between two mirrors to form a resonant cavity, the cavity length selected so that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes. By selecting this cavity length, only a single longitudinal mode will oscillate when the laser operates in a single transverse mode. The microlaser is optically pumped by any appropriate source such as a semiconductor injection laser or laser array. Suitable gain media are Nd:YAG and Nd pentaphosphate.
Inventors
- 👤 Aram Mooradian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0627; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415; H01S3/02; H01S3/025; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0604; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/08022; H01S3/08031; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/1603; H01S3/1611; H01S3/163; H01S3/164; H01S3/1643; H01S3/1688
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
Solid state, optically pumped microlaser comprising: a solid state gain medium disposed between two mirrors, the distance between the mirrors selected so that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
Solid state, optically pumped microlaser comprising: a solid state gain medium disposed between two mirrors, the distance between the mirrors selected so that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the distance, l, between the mirrors satisfies the inequality: l<c/2nν g where c is the speed of light, n is the refractive index in the gain medium, and ν g is the gain bandwidth of the gain medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the mirrors are in the form of coatings deposited directly on opposing surfaces of the gain medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the mirrors are separate elements bonded to opposing surfaces of the gain medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the gain medium is Nd:YAG.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the gain medium is Nd pentaphosphate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the gain medium is Nd:YAG and the separation between mirrors is in the range of several hundred μm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the gain medium is Nd pentaphosphate and the separation between the mirrors is in the range of 10-100 μ'm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The microlaser of claim 1 futher including a semiconductor diode laser adjacent to the microlaser for optically pumping the microlaser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The microlaser of claim 9 wherein the microlaser is bonded to the semiconductor diode laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The microlaser of claim 1 wherein the gain medium and mirrors form a Fabry-Perot type resonator at the frequency at which the microlaser is optically pumped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The microlaser of claim 3 wherein the coatings have high reflectivity at the wavelength at which the gain medium is optically pumped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The microlaser of claim 9 wherein the mirrors include dielectric coatings having high reflectivity at the semiconductor diode pump laser frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4002725A
Cited
US4734912A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-21 | 1993-02-20 | 1993-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-21 | 1997-02-20 | 1997-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-21 | 2001-02-20 | 2001-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |