Transversally pumped solid state laser

Coherent light generators – Particular pumping means – Pumping with optical or radiant energy

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372 70, H01S 3091, H01S 3094

Patent

active

056129696

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

The invention refers to a solid state laser with a resonator and a rod-like laser crystal placed mainly parallel to the axis of the resonator which is stimulated by at least two transversally in-coupled, axis-symmetrical pump light beams on at least a part of its length.
It is known that a solid state body consists of a laser crystal which is formed rod-like, cylindric laser crystal and of a pump light source placed in radial distance to the laser crystal. In addition there are regularily placed optic mirrors which either are set upon on the front surfaces of the laser crystal or are placed within a corresponding opto-mechanics in a distance to the front surfaces of the laser crystal. One of these two mirrors is fully reflecting, and the second mirror is partially transparent and formed as a neutralizing mirror from which the laser beam exits.
When operated, the laser crystal is loaded by the pump light source with light energy, whereby the laser crystal as an active medium absorbes light energy of a certain wavelength. By this absorbtion the laser crystal and its crystal ions are stimulated into a higher energy level. From this stimulated energy state the laser ions return back to a lower energy level by emitting laser light energy.
The conventional pump light sources used for a pulsed emission for instance are xenon flash lights or crypton high pressure gas discharge lamps for a continuous emission.
In addition also laser diode arrangements are used as pump light sources which have the advantage that their emitted pump laser beam can be adjusted to the corresponding absorption maximum of the laser crystal used. The result is that the solid state laser or the laser crystal can be pumped much more efficiently due to the reached high differential absorption than by conventional pump light sources which have a much larger light spectrum which can be absorbed by the laser crystal only within narrow ranges. All diode pumped solid state lasers have in common that the inversion necessary to produce a laser beam is provided within the laser crystal by the pump light energy of a system of one or more laser diodes as pump light source. There are different ways to couple in the pump light power into the laser crystal, usually the difference is made between longitudinal and transversal pumping.
When transversally pumped, the in-coupling of the stimulating light or the pump light beams into the laser crystal is done radially from the outside. The laser beams produced within the laser crystal by the pump light beams propagate vertically in the laser crystal and are reflected by mirrors placed on each front side so that in the laser crystal or in the resonator a standing laser light source is formed. By continually pumping the laser crystal with pump light this standing wave is continuously enhanced. One of the two reflecting mirrors is partially transparent and serves as a so-called neutralizing mirror, i.e. that a part of the laser light beam exits from the solid state body or the resonator in form of a laser beam.
In order to obtain a maximum energy efficiency it is necessary to adjust the reflecting mirror very precisely so that the produced laser beams always pass the laser crystal completely and that possibly no spread losses do occur. Further it is common to set a so-called frequency doubling crystal in the path of rays of the laser beam between the laser crystal and the high reflecting reflector; this frequency doubling crystal is meant to generate higher harmonics of the fundamental oscillation, e.g. second harmonic oscillation.
Reflectors can also be used as neutralizing mirrors if they are transparent only for the corresponding harmonic of the laser beam and which completely reflect the fundamental of the laser beam produced in the laser crystal so that only the harmonic leaves the solid state laser as a laser beam.
The production of such a reliable and efficient working as well as the profitable production of such a frequency doubling laser system is coupled with several difficulties.
Thus the o

REFERENCES:
patent: 5349600 (1994-09-01), Shinbori et al.

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