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Method and apparatus for passive mode locking high power lasers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5630611
This patent describes a passively mode-locked laser. It comprises a main cavity including a first mirror and a second mirror spaced apart from and oriented toward one another so as to form an optical axis; a lasing medium, disposed along the optical axis, having a long fluorescene relaxation time; exciter means for inducing a population inversion in the lasing medium and causing the main cavity alone to emit a continuous non mode-locked beam of coherent radiation; optical means, disposed to intercept and transmit a portion of the continuous, non mode-locked, coherent beam travelling along the optical axis, for inducing a phase shift in the transmitted beam; a third mirror positioned to reflect the beam transmitted through the optical means back into the optical means, with the first, second and third mirrors forming a coupled cavity wherein the laser is mode-locked and pulsed; and output coupling means for emitting the pulsed radiation from the coupled cavity.
Assignee:
Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5046184
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-505709
OSTI ID:
5630611
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English