Thermal lens elimination by gradient-reduced zone coupling of optical beams

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873468

Page, Ralph H ^[1]; Beach, Raymond J ^[2]

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1. San Ramon, CA
2. Livermore, CA

A thermal gradient-reduced-zone laser includes a laser medium and an optically transparent plate with an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the laser medium. The pump face of the laser medium is bonded to a surface of the optically transparent member. Pump light is directed through the transparent plate to optically pump the solid state laser medium. Heat conduction is mainly through the surface of the laser medium where the heat is introduced by the pump light. Heat flows in a direction opposite to that of the pump light because the side of the laser medium that is opposite to that of the pump face is not in thermal contact with a conductor and thus there is no heat flux (and hence, no temperature gradient), thus producing a thermal gradient-reduced zone. A laser cavity is formed around the laser medium such that laser light oscillating within the laser cavity reflects by total-internal-reflection from the interface between the pump face and the optically transparent plate and enters and exits through a thermal gradient-reduced zone.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6167069
• OSTI ID: 873468
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

thermal
lens
elimination
gradient-reduced
zone
coupling
optical
beams
gradient-reduced-zone
laser
medium
optically
transparent
plate
index
refraction
pump
bonded
surface
light
directed
solid
heat
conduction
mainly
introduced
flows
direction
opposite
contact
conductor
flux
hence
temperature
gradient
producing
cavity
formed
oscillating
reflects
total-internal-reflection
interface
enters
exits
heat conduction
thermal gradient
pump light
heat flow
optically transparent
optical beam
heat flux
laser cavity
temperature gradient
laser light
laser medium
thermal contact
direction opposite
optical beams
heat flows
transparent plate
optically pump
thermal lens
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