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Title: Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Princeton, NJ
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864425
Patent Number(s):
4361889
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01S - DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT
DOE Contract Number:  
EY-76-C-02-3073
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
grating; tuned; unstable; resonator; laser; cavity; power; narrow; line; pump; lasers; comprises; array; reflectors; configuration; spherical; planar; wavefronts; separated; separate; optical; paths; impinged; plane; tuning; reflector; concave; mirror; reflecting; incident; waves; output; axis; form; beam; oriented; reflect; portion; relay; spaced; apart; proximity; reflects; impinge; convex; expanding; illuminate; provided; rotating; normal; pump laser; plane grating; plane wave; spherical wave; reflector array; laser cavity; output beam; spaced apart; optical path; concave mirror; array comprises; narrow line; unstable resonator; /372/

Citation Formats

Johnson, Larry C. Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Johnson, Larry C. Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity. United States.
Johnson, Larry C. Fri . "Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864425.
@article{osti_864425,
title = {Grating tuned unstable resonator laser cavity},
author = {Johnson, Larry C},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1982},
month = {1}
}