Laser resonator with laser medium exhibiting thermally induced birefringence

Patent · Tue Oct 03 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7248386

Johnson, B C; Herbst, R L

This patent describes an apparatus for generating an output beam of coherent radiation. A laser medium exhibiting thermally induced birefringenoie having a lasing axis, for transmitting radiation along the lasing axis, and each point in the laser medium characterized by a radial polarization axis and a tangential polarization axis. The radial polarization axis intersecting the tangential polarization axis at an angle 90 degrees; means, aligned with the lasing axis on a first side of the laser medium, for rotating polarization of radiation transmitted along the lasing axis from the laser medium to generate rotated radiation and for guiding the rotated radiation along the lasing axis into the laser medium; optic means, aligned with the lasing axis on the second side of the laser medium, for guiding radiation having a first polarization along a first path and for guiding radiation having a second polarization along a second path; means, on the first path spaced away from the optic means, for reflecting radiation in the first path back along the first path through the optic means into the laser medium; means, on the second path spaced away from the optic means, for reflecting a first component of the radiation back along the second path into the laser medium, and transmitting a second component of the radiation as an output beam.

• Assignee: Spectra-Physics, San Jose, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4872181
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-274405A
• OSTI ID: 7248386
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
BIREFRINGENCE
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
LASER MATERIALS
LASERS
MATERIALS
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
REFRACTION
RESONATORS