Fast acousto-optic q-switch laser

Patent · Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5678050

Ellis, F E

A fast acousto-optic q-switch laser is taught comprising a lasing medium, reflecting means mounted substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium and spaced from a first end thereof, feedback reflecting means spaced from a second end of the lasing medium, optical pumping means for pumping the lasing medium, an acousto-optic switch mounted along and tilted at a preselected angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium between the second end of the lasing medium and said feedback reflecting means and spaced from the second end of said lasing medium for deflecting a portion of the radiation emitted by the lasing medium, and first and second transducers mounted in opposition to each other on the switch, the first transducer mounted with respect to the switch such that the gradient of the envelope of the acoustic energy introduced into and propagated through the switch approximates the gradient of the non-uniform population inversion directly in the lasing medium, and the second transducer mounted with respect to the switch such that acoustic energy introduced into and propagated through the switch has a velocity vector opposite to the first transducer and timed to provide maximum feedback when lasing occurs, said feedback reflecting means positioned along and tilted at a preselected angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said lasing medium related to the path to be taken by the deflected portion of radiation for reflecting said deflected portion of radiation back to said switch.

• Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4308506
• OSTI ID: 5678050
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 4 Jun 1979; Other Information: PAT-APPL-045526
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
LASERS
DESIGN
Q-SWITCHING
ACOUSTICS
FEEDBACK
GLASS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
NIOBATES
OPTICAL PUMPING
QUARTZ
REFLECTION
RF SYSTEMS
SPEED REGULATORS
SWITCHES
TRANSDUCERS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
NIOBIUM COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PUMPING
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
420300* - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)