Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity
An unstable resonator to be used in high power, narrow line CO/sub 2/ pump lasers comprises an array of four reflectors in a ring configuration wherein spherical and planar wavefronts are separated from each other along separate optical paths and only the planar wavefronts are impinged on a plane grating for line tuning. The reflector array comprises a concave mirror for reflecting incident spherical waves as plane waves along an output axis to form an output beam. A plane grating on the output axis is oriented to reflect a portion of the output beam off axis onto a planar relay mirror spaced apart from the output axis in proximity to the concave mirror. The relay mirror reflects plane waves from the grating to impinge on a convex expanding mirror spaced apart from the output axis in proximity to the grating. The expanding mirror reflects the incident planar waves as spherical waves to illuminate the concave mirror. Tuning is provided by rotating the plane grating about an axis normal to the output axis.
- Assignee:
- Dept. Of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4361889
- OSTI ID:
- 6460593
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 6 Aug 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-175815
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity
Free-electron laser with difraction grating resonator