Tunable electro-optic Q-switch, and lasers using same

Details Tunable electro-optic Q-switch, and lasers using same Tunable electro-optic Q-switch, and lasers using same

1990-03-28

1991-03-19

Scott, Jr., Leon

Coherent light generators

Particular beam control device

Q-switch

372 12, 372 20, 372 27, 372105, H01S 311

Patent

active

050017160

ABSTRACT:
A Q-switch for a laser having a resonant cavity including an output coupler, a gain medium and a retro-reflecting mirror is mounted in the resonant cavity between the gain medium and the retro-reflecting mirror. The Q-switch comprises a polarizer and a phase retarding element (such as a Pockels cell) which includes a birefringent substrate for inducing a controllable phase retardation in the cavity mode in response to an applied electric field. A tiltable mount supports the phase retarding element so that the lasing axis lies essentially in a plane of the crystallographic axis 45.degree. from the direction of polarization, and lies at an adjustable angle relative to the crystallographic axis. A control circuit supplies an applied electric field within the substrate having a first magnitude in a first state and a second magnitude in a seocnd state. In the first state, the phase retarding element induces 90.degree. rotation in a round trip for the cavity mode. In the second state, the phase retarding element induces effectively no rotation (0.degree. or 180.degree.) for the cavity mode. Therefore, the resonant cavity achieves a high extinction ratio by proper adjustment of the adjustable angle.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3609389 (1971-09-01), Bjorkholm
patent: 3628186 (1971-12-01), Ashkin
patent: 3866141 (1975-02-01), Milam et al.
patent: 3902137 (1975-08-01), Hughes
patent: 4630275 (1986-12-01), Rapoport
patent: 4660205 (1987-04-01), Harter et al.
Koechner, Solid State State Laser Engineering, Second Edition, Springer-Verlag (1988), pp. 414-431.
Hecht, Optics, Second Edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. (1987), pp. 303-304.

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