Coherent light generators – Particular beam control device – Mode discrimination
Patent
1996-06-17
1998-05-05
Scott, Jr., Leon
Coherent light generators
Particular beam control device
Mode discrimination
372 75, 372 25, H01S 3098
Patent
active
057486549
ABSTRACT:
A technique for operating a diode pumped solid state laser in a continuous-wave (cw) mode using diodes blocks (12) that are individually operated in a pulsed mode. For some high power laser applications, it is desirable to provide for operation in pulsed and cw modes, but pump diodes are typically designed for efficient operation in only one of these modes. The invention includes a controller (20) that pulses the individual diode blocks (12) on and off, but not necessarily in unison. For a pulsed mode of operation, the diodes (12) in an array are pulsed either at the same time, or sub-arrays are pulsed in a temporally interleaved manner for a higher effective pulse repetition rate. For the cw mode of operation, the diodes (12) are pulsed sequentially in sub-arrays (A-E), such that at least one sub-array is always energized and the complete array appears to be providing continuous pumping energy. In one embodiment, the sub-arrays (A-E) are columns of the array. In another embodiment, the sub-arrays (12') are each associated with a different solid-state gain medium (10'), the gain media being optically coupled in a single laser.
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Berg Jacqueline G.
Holleman Gerald W.
Injeyan Hagop
Marabella Leonard J.
Zamel James M.
Jr. Leon Scott
TRW Inc.
Yatsko Michael S.
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