Laser amplifier and method
Abstract
Laser amplifiers and methods for amplifying a laser beam are disclosed. A representative embodiment of the amplifier comprises first and second curved mirrors, a gain medium, a third mirror, and a mask. The gain medium is situated between the first and second curved mirrors at the focal point of each curved mirror. The first curved mirror directs and focuses a laser beam to pass through the gain medium to the second curved mirror which reflects and recollimates the laser beam. The gain medium amplifies and shapes the laser beam as the laser beam passes therethough. The third mirror reflects the laser beam, reflected from the second curved mirror, so that the laser beam bypasses the gain medium and return to the first curved mirror, thereby completing a cycle of a ring traversed by the laser beam. The mask defines at least one beam-clipping aperture through which the laser beam passes during a cycle. The gain medium is pumped, preferably using a suitable pumping laser. The laser amplifier can be used to increase the energy of continuous-wave or, especially, pulsed laser beams including pulses of femtosecond duration and relatively high pulse rate.
- Inventors:
-
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871030
- Patent Number(s):
- 5644424
- Assignee:
- Washington State University Research Foundation (Pullman, WA)
- 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:
- FG06-93ER12135
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- laser; amplifier; method; amplifiers; methods; amplifying; beam; disclosed; representative; embodiment; comprises; curved; mirrors; medium; third; mirror; mask; situated; focal; directs; focuses; pass; reflects; recollimates; amplifies; shapes; passes; therethough; reflected; bypasses; return; completing; cycle; traversed; defines; beam-clipping; aperture; pumped; preferably; suitable; pumping; increase; energy; continuous-wave; especially; pulsed; beams; including; pulses; femtosecond; duration; relatively; pulse; rate; curved mirror; beam passes; laser beams; laser beam; pulsed laser; laser amplifier; pulse rate; pumping laser; amplifier comprises; third mirror; laser amplifiers; suitable pump; /359/
Citation Formats
Backus, Sterling, Kapteyn, Henry C, and Murnane, Margaret M. Laser amplifier and method. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Backus, Sterling, Kapteyn, Henry C, & Murnane, Margaret M. Laser amplifier and method. United States.
Backus, Sterling, Kapteyn, Henry C, and Murnane, Margaret M. Wed .
"Laser amplifier and method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871030.
@article{osti_871030,
title = {Laser amplifier and method},
author = {Backus, Sterling and Kapteyn, Henry C and Murnane, Margaret M},
abstractNote = {Laser amplifiers and methods for amplifying a laser beam are disclosed. A representative embodiment of the amplifier comprises first and second curved mirrors, a gain medium, a third mirror, and a mask. The gain medium is situated between the first and second curved mirrors at the focal point of each curved mirror. The first curved mirror directs and focuses a laser beam to pass through the gain medium to the second curved mirror which reflects and recollimates the laser beam. The gain medium amplifies and shapes the laser beam as the laser beam passes therethough. The third mirror reflects the laser beam, reflected from the second curved mirror, so that the laser beam bypasses the gain medium and return to the first curved mirror, thereby completing a cycle of a ring traversed by the laser beam. The mask defines at least one beam-clipping aperture through which the laser beam passes during a cycle. The gain medium is pumped, preferably using a suitable pumping laser. The laser amplifier can be used to increase the energy of continuous-wave or, especially, pulsed laser beams including pulses of femtosecond duration and relatively high pulse rate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1997},
month = {1}
}
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