US5365539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microchip laser
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1993-10-22
•
Granted: 1994-11-15
•
Expires: 2013-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A gain medium is disposed between two mirrors to form a resonant cavity. The cavity length is selected so that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than or substantially equal to the frequency separation of the cavity modes and such that a cavity mode frequency falls within the gain bandwidth. A nonlinear optical material is disposed either inside or outside the cavity to generate new laser wavelengths. The nonlinear optical material may be contained in a cavity which is resonant at the microchip laser frequency. Alternatively, the microchip laser may be tuned, for example thermally or by the application of a longitudinal or transverse stress, to the frequency of the resonant cavity. The laser is optically pumped by any appropriate source such as a semiconductor injection laser or laser array. Suitable gain media include Nd:YAG, Nd:GSGG and Nd pentaphosphate, and suitable non-linear optical material include MgO:LiNbO 3 and KTP.
Inventors
- 👤 Aram Mooradian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0627; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/39; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0604; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/08022; H01S3/08031; H01S3/0804; H01S3/08045; H01S3/094038; H01S3/102; H01S3/1028; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/1603; H01S3/1611; H01S3/163; H01S3/164; H01S3/1643; H01S3/1688; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A solid state optically pumped laser comprising a solid state gain medium disposed between two mirrors characterized in that the distance between the mirrors is such that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes, and in that the laser is pumped to operate in a single transverse mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A solid state optically pumped laser comprising a solid state gain medium disposed between two mirrors characterized in that the distance between the mirrors is such that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes, and in that the laser is pumped to operate in a single transverse mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the mirrors are in the form of coatings deposited directly on opposing surfaces of the gain medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the mirrors are separate elements bonded to opposing surfaces of the gain medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A laser of claim 1 in which the gain medium is Nd:YAG.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the gain medium is Nd pentaphosphate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 4 in which the separation between the mirrors is in the range of several hundred micrometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 5 is which the separation between the mirrors is in the range of 10-100 micrometers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 1 in combination with a semiconductor diode laser adjacent the laser for optically pumping the laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser of claim 8 in which the mirrors form facets on each end of the gain medium and the semiconductor diode laser is bonded to one of said facets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the gain medium and the mirrors form a Fabry-Perot type resonator at the frequency at which the laser is optically pumped.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 2 in which the coatings have high reflectivity at the wavelength at which the gain medium is optically pumped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser of claim 8 in which the mirrors include dielectric coatings having high reflectivity at the semiconductor diode pump laser frequency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laser of claim 1 in which the laser is longitudinally pumped.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of forming a solid state optically pumped laser comprising the steps of: a) disposing a solid state gain medium between two mirrors wherein the distance between the mirrors is such that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes, and b) optically pumping the gain medium to cause the laser to operate in a single transverse mode.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of forming a solid state optically pumped laser comprising the steps of: a) disposing a solid state gain medium between two mirrors wherein the distance between the mirrors is such that the gain bandwidth of the gain medium is less than the frequency separation of the cavity modes, and b) optically pumping the gain medium to cause the laser to operate in a single transverse mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 in which the mirrors are formed by depositing coatings directly on opposing surfaces of the gain medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 in which the mirrors are formed by bonding separate elements to opposing surface of the gain medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 in which the gain medium is formed of Nd:YAG.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 in which the gain medium is formed of Nd pentaphosphate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 in which the separation between the mirrors is in the range of several hundred micrometers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 in which the separation between the mirrors is in the range of 10-100 micrometers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 in which the laser is optically pumped by a semiconductor diode laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 in which the mirrors form facets on each end of the gain medium and the semiconductor diode laser is bonded to one of said facets.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 in which the gain medium and the mirrors form a Fabry-Perot type resonator at the frequency at which the laser is optically pumped.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 in which the coatings have high reflectivity at the wavelength at which the gain medium is optically pumped.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 in which the mirrors include dielectric coatings having high reflectivity at the semiconductor diode pump laser frequency.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 14 in which the laser is longitudinally pumped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1456603A
Cited
US3808549A
Cited
US3949320A
Cited
US4002725A
Cited
JPS61102081A
Cited
US4739507A
Cited
US4734912A
Cited
US4797893A
Cited
US4953166A
Cited
US4860304A
Cited
US5265116A
Cited
US4847851A
Cited
US4901330A
Cited
WO1990009688A1
Cited
US5022043A
Cited
US5062117A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-14 | 1998-05-16 | 1998-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-05-16 | 2002-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-14 | 2006-05-16 | 2006-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |