Coherent light generators – Particular resonant cavity – Plural cavities
Patent
1981-12-04
1984-09-18
Sikes, William L.
Coherent light generators
Particular resonant cavity
Plural cavities
372 93, 372 68, 372108, 372 87, H01S 3082
Patent
active
044728093
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a hybrid laser, consisting, firstly, of a reference laser, an injection laser or a laser amplifier and, secondly, of a TE-laser, or a longitudinally pulsed or Q-switched CW-laser. Both lasers share a common housing and resonator cavity and are disposed in mutually parallel alignment. They may operate at the same or at different wavelengths. Their discharge channels are placed in series by two deviators that face one another at one end of the system and by placement of a totally reflecting element in front of one channel and an at least partially transmitting element for extracting the beam out of the cavity, at the other end of the system. The lasers are operated in coherent superposition.
A laser of this type is described in the technical article "Frequency and amplitude characteristics of a high repetition rate hybrid TEA CO.sub.2 laser by J. L. Lachamber, P. Lavigne, M. Verreault and G. Otis, appearing in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol QE-14, No. 3, March 1978, pages 170-177.
It is the object of the present invention to improve the uniformity of temperature conditions and the constancy of the wavelength relations relative to one another, in a laser system of the type to which the invention pertains, in which operation takes place at two identical or different wavelengths. This object is attained, according to the invention, in that the reference laser, the injection laser or the laser amplifier consists of a tube that encloses a separate pressure space and is bathed in coolant, while the TE laser or the pulsed laser consists of a high-pressure chamber connected to the resonator cavity and having at least two opposing electrodes. All laser elements including their optical components are disposed in fixed mutual relation. These steps insure temporal and spatial coherence for all wave forms so that all thermal and mechanical changes have the same effect on all lasers. The reference laser, injection laser or laser amplifier may be used in the various pulsed laser channels for producing a laser pulse, either simultaneously or at different times.
A further embodiment of the invention provides that the tube containing the reference laser, the injection laser or the laser amplifier be located centrally, with both long sides thereof being limited by corresponding sides of an at least once-folded beam path of the gas laser. Depending on the point where radiation is to be extracted, the channels formed by the electrodes must be terminated at one end by the deviating means and, at the other end, either by one totally reflecting optical element and one partially transmitting element or window, or by two totally reflecting elements. In conformance therewith, the tube containing the reference laser, the injection laser or the laser amplifier must be terminated at the end faces either by a totally reflecting optical element and an at least partially transmitting optical element, or by an element serving for deviation and extraction and a totally reflecting optical element or by an optical element that permits transmission of several wavelengths. Such laser systems are provided, especially, for remote gas analysis by the differential method. For example, the reflected partial laser beams can be used to determine the gas components in the air. Other possible uses are humidity measurements, air speed measurments on the basis of the Doppler-shift and others.
When used for these applications, it may be advantageous if the endface that holds the partially transmitting elements is adjustable in the longitudinal direction, for example, by means of a piezoelectric transducer. This permits a tuning of the resonator length with relatively small motions.
The gas lasers may be operated continuously (CW) or pulsed, using a waveguide laser or a conventional CW-laser, respectively. The energy supply must be continuous, for example, due to a continuous discharge. It will be understood that in such continuous extraction, the power level is lower. In such use, it is advantageous if the two associated la
REFERENCES:
patent: 3855547 (1974-07-01), Kirk
"Compact Neon-Helium Laser with an Increased Power Rating" Bazylenko et al., Moscow State University, Tekhnika Eksperimenta No. 3, pp. 206-208 May-Jun. 1975.
Karning Heinrich
Prein Franz
Jr. Leon Scott
Sikes William L.
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