Patent US4951294A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4951294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Diode pumped modelocked solid state laser
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1988-04-22
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Granted: 1990-08-21
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Expires: 2008-04-22
Abstract
Abstract In a three-mirror optical resonator, solid state laser, the gain member is a thin slab, such as Nd:glass, disposed at Brewsters angle to minimize insertion loss. The gain slab is disposed at a beam waist in a confocal arm of the optical resonator. Optical pumping radiation from a laser diode source is focused through one of the concave mirrors of the confocal arm of the resonator into the gain slab. The second arm of the resonator is defined between a planar mirror and one of the confocal mirrors. An acousto-optic mode-locking modulator is disposed in the collimated beam region of the resonator proximate the planar mirror. Additional pumping diodes pump collinearly through the other confocal mirror for higher power operation. The slab is rotated and translated to average thermally induced stress and de-focusing effects.
Inventors
- 👤 Santanu Basu
- 👤 Robert L. Byer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0604; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/0813; H01S3/0815; H01S3/09408; H01S3/1068; H01S3/1095; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In a method for obtaining lasant radiation from a semiconductive diode pumped member of solid state laser gain material, the steps of: focusing optical pumping radiation emanating from a semiconductive diode source onto a solid state member of laser gain material for optically pumping a mode volume region thereof to excite optical lasant radiation from said laser gain material; resonating the optical lasant radiation emanating from said laser gain material between reflectors defining an optical resonator having an optical axis passing through the optically pumped region of said laser gain member; focusing the resonant lasant radiation between two concave reflectors of said optical resonator to form a beam waist within said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member; and modelocking said resonant lasant radiation within said optical resonator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a method for obtaining lasant radiation from a semiconductive diode pumped member of solid state laser gain material, the steps of: focusing optical pumping radiation emanating from a semiconductive diode source onto a solid state member of laser gain material for optically pumping a mode volume region thereof to excite optical lasant radiation from said laser gain material; resonating the optical lasant radiation emanating from said laser gain material between reflectors defining an optical resonator having an optical axis passing through the optically pumped region of said laser gain member; focusing the resonant lasant radiation between two concave reflectors of said optical resonator to form a beam waist within said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member; and modelocking said resonant lasant radiation within said optical resonator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of modelocking includes the step of: modulating the resonated lasant radiation within said optical resonator.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of claim l wherein said member of laser gain material is a slab having a pair of relatively narrowly spaced apart mutually opposed broad major faces and including the step of: orienting said slab of laser gain material within said optical resonator with said major faces generally at Brewsters angle relative to the confocally focused resonated lasant radiation, whereby the insertion loss of said laser gain medium is reduced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of moving the slab within said optical resonator for averaging heating effects within said slab of laser gain material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said optical resonator is a three reflector one and a third one of said reflectors defining said optical resonator with said two concave reflectors is essentially planar, including the steps of: disposing and orienting said planar reflector to reflect resonated lasant radiation incident thereof back to one of said concave reflectors of said optical resonator; and wherein the step of modelocking is performed on the lasant radiation between said planar reflector and one of said concave reflectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of: directing and focusing optical pumping radiation from a second semiconductive diode into said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of: disposing an optically non-linear harmonic generating medium essentially at said beam waist on the optical axis of said optical resonator between said two concave reflectors for generating harmonic radiation of said lasant radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member is an optically non-linear material for harmonic generation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said non-linear laser gain material is Nd doped MgO:LiNbO 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the slab of laser gain material is of a material selected from the group consisting of Nd:glass, Nd:YAG, Nd doped MgO:LiNbO3, and Nd:NLF.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a laser for obtaining lasant radiation from a semiconductive diode pumped member of solid state laser gain material: focusing means for focusing optical pumping radiation emanating from a semiconductive diode source onto a solid state member of laser gain material for optically pumping a mode volume region thereof to excite optical lasant radiation from said laser gain material; optical resonator means for resonating the optical lasant radiation emanating from the optically pumped region of said laser gain material along an optical axis passing through the optically pumped region of said laser gain member; focusing means for focusing the resonated lasant radiation between two concave reflectors of said optical resonator to form a beam waist within said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member; and means for modelocking said resonated lasant radiation within said optical resonator essentially collinearly of the optical axis of said focused lasant radiation within said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a laser for obtaining lasant radiation from a semiconductive diode pumped member of solid state laser gain material: focusing means for focusing optical pumping radiation emanating from a semiconductive diode source onto a solid state member of laser gain material for optically pumping a mode volume region thereof to excite optical lasant radiation from said laser gain material; optical resonator means for resonating the optical lasant radiation emanating from the optically pumped region of said laser gain material along an optical axis passing through the optically pumped region of said laser gain member; focusing means for focusing the resonated lasant radiation between two concave reflectors of said optical resonator to form a beam waist within said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member; and means for modelocking said resonated lasant radiation within said optical resonator essentially collinearly of the optical axis of said focused lasant radiation within said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 11 wherein said modelocking means includes: modulating means for modulating the resonated lasant radiation within said optical resonator means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The laser of claim 11 wherein said member of laser gain material is a slab having a pair of relatively narrowly spaced apart mutually opposed broad major faces and. said slab is oriented within said optical resonator means with said major faces essentially at Brewsters angle relative to the focused resonated lasant radiation, whereby the insertion loss of said laser gain medium is reduced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser of claim 13 including: means for moving said slab of laser gain material within said optical resonator means for averaging heating effects within said slab of laser gain material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
The laser of claim 12 wherein said resonator is a three-mirror one and a third one of said reflectors defining said optical resonator with two concave reflectors is generally planar, said third planar reflector positioned to reflect generally collimated resonated lasant radiation incident thereon back to one of said concave reflectors of said optical resonator; and wherein said modulating means is disposed within said resonator means proximate said planar reflector for modulating the collimated lasant radiation between said planar reflector and one of said concave reflectors to improve the efficiency of the modulation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser of claim 11 including: means for directing and focusing optical pumping radiation from a second semiconductive diode into said optically pumped mode volume of said laser gain member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser of claim 11 including: an optically non-linear harmonic generating medium disposed essentially at said beam waist on the optical axis of said optical resonator means between said two concave reflectors for generating harmonic radiation of said lasant radiation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser of claim 17 wherein said laser gain member is an optically non-linear material for harmonic generation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser of claim 18 wherein said non-linear laser gain material is Nd doped MgO:LiNbO 3 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser of claim 13 wherein said slab of laser gain material is of a material selected from the group consisting of Nd:glass, Nd:YAG, Nd doped MgO:LiNbO 3 , and Nd:NLF.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a solid state laser: an optical resonator defined by a pair of essentially coaxial concave reflectors and a essentially planar reflector disposed off the axis of said concave reflectors; a member of laser gain material disposed on the optical axis of said resonator between said concave reflectors; a semiconductive diode junction source of optical pumping radiation disposed outside of said optical resonator; and an optical focusing lens structure disposed outside of said optical resonator for focusing optical pumping radiation emanating from said diode through one of said concave reflectors essentially coaxially of and along said optical axis and into said member of laser gain material for optically pumping a mode volume region of said member to excite lasant optical transitions of said optically pumped region of said laser gain member for emission of optical lasant radiation and excitation of an optically resonant mode of said optical resonator
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a solid state laser: an optical resonator defined by a pair of essentially coaxial concave reflectors and a essentially planar reflector disposed off the axis of said concave reflectors; a member of laser gain material disposed on the optical axis of said resonator between said concave reflectors; a semiconductive diode junction source of optical pumping radiation disposed outside of said optical resonator; and an optical focusing lens structure disposed outside of said optical resonator for focusing optical pumping radiation emanating from said diode through one of said concave reflectors essentially coaxially of and along said optical axis and into said member of laser gain material for optically pumping a mode volume region of said member to excite lasant optical transitions of said optically pumped region of said laser gain member for emission of optical lasant radiation and excitation of an optically resonant mode of said optical resonator
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The laser of claim 21 wherein said optically pumped laser gain member comprises a slab having a pair of narrowly spaced apart major planar faces disposed essentially at Brewsters angle relative to said optical axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The laser of claim 22 wherein said concave reflectors focus said lasant radiation to a beam waist on the optical axis of said optical resonator and wherein said optically pumped mode volume region of said laser gain member is disposed essentially at said beam waist.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The laser of claim 21 including: an acousto-optic modulator disposed on the optical axis of said optical resonator between said planar reflector and one of said concave reflectors and responsive to a modulation signal for mode-locking the resonant lasant radiation within said optical resonator.
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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) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |