589 nm laser

Details 589 nm laser 589 nm laser

2001-08-30

2003-11-25

Ip, Paul (Department: 2828)

Coherent light generators

Particular active media

C372S039000, C372S040000, C372S089000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06654395

ABSTRACT:

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a 589 nm laser and more particularly to such laser in Pr-doped glass.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Satellite communication systems employ lasers at 589 nm (sodium D line) to generate a “bright star” reference used for correcting atmospheric distortion. This wavelength is currently available only from large-scale laser systems such as dye, OPO or sum-frequency Nd-YAG. However, such lasers are unsuitable for small-scale or mobile communication systems. Pr
3+
-doped fluorozirconate ZBLAN glass has been extensively investigated for both a 1.3 &mgr;m amplifier and as a laser at red, green and blue wavelengths. Lasing at visible wavelengths originates from the
3
P
1
+
3
P
0
levels. Tunable lasing at 599-618 nm has been demonstrated in both direct-pumped and upconversion lasers, but did not extend to 589 nm. That is, Pr
3+
-doped fluorozirconate ZBLAN glass is known to lase at 601-618 nm but lasing at 589 nm can not be achieved in this host. Thus, Pr
3+
emission is known to be strongly host-dependent.
In the prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,170 to Rice et al (2000) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,006 to Rice et al (1998), which patents however, are directed to frequency laser amplifier arrays with no mention of a glass host doped with PrF for lasing at 589 nm, to generate a bright star reference therein.
Accordingly, there is need and market to identify a suitable host for the desired lasing to overcome the above prior art shortcomings.
There has now been discovered a suitable host to achieve lasing at 589 nm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly the present invention provides a lasing host comprising a fluoroaluminate glass doped with PrF
3
or Pr
3+
ions for lasing at 589 nm.
The invention further provides a method for increasing the emissions of the above fluoroaluminate glass, comprising heating the glass sufficiently to thermally enhance 589 nm fluorescence from Pr
3+
ions in the glass.
Also provided is a method for thermally enhancing 589 nm fluorescence from Pr
3+
ions in the above glass, wherein the glass is heated in order to increase the thermal population of the ions at the
3
P
1
energy level, which level is described below.
The present invention has been described, in part, in a Paper published in the Journal of Luminescence, entitled Pr
3+
-doped fluoride glass for a 589 nm fibre laser, published October 2000 by Mira Naftaly et al, which Paper is incorporated herein by reference.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5313547 (1994-05-01), Lambard et al.
patent: 5973824 (1999-10-01), Sanghera et al.
patent: 6037285 (2000-03-01), Jha et al.
patent: 6304711 (2001-10-01), Samson et al.
patent: 6347177 (2002-02-01), Heo et al.
Naftaly M., Batchelo C. and Jha A.; “Pr 3+ doped fluoride glass for a 589 nm fiber laser” Journal of Luminescence, 2000, V 91, N3—4(Nov), p. 133-138.

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