Pulsed laser light source

• US 20060159138A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Institut national d'optique
• Original Assignee: Institut national d'optique
• Inventors: Deladurantaye, Pascal, Taillon, Yves, Larose, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/316,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20060159138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/25
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 2301/02 ASE (amplified spontaneous emission), noise; Reduction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0064 Anti-reflection devices, e.g. optical isolaters absorbing layers for marking or protecting purposes in laser working B23K26/50; magneto-optical non-reciprocal devices G02F1/093, G02F1/0955
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0085 Modulating the output, i.e. the laser beam is modulated outside the laser cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06758 Tandem amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/10015 by monitoring or controlling, e.g. attenuating, the input signal

Abstract

A pulsed laser light source is provided. A continuous light beam is first generated by a CW laser source such as a laser diode, a superfluorescent source or a CW solid state laser. The continuous light beam is then modulated by a first modulator, and further shaped by a second modulator at least in partial synchronization with the first. The first and second modulators are preferably each followed by a gain medium for signal amplification.

Claims

1. A pulsed laser light source, comprising:

a continuous wave laser light source generating a continuous light beam;

a first modulator receiving the continuous light beam therethrough and temporally modulating the same so as to generate a plurality of optical pulses having a pulse shape, said pulses defining a pulsed light beam; and

a second modulator receiving the pulsed light beam therethrough and temporally modulating the same in at least a partial synchronization with said first modulator so as to further determine the pulse shape of said optical pulses.

2. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, wherein said continuous wave laser light source comprises a laser diode.

3. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 2, wherein said continuous wave laser light source is spectrally tunable.

4. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, wherein said continuous wave laser light source comprises a superfluorescent source.

5. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, wherein said continuous wave laser light source comprises one of a bulk laser source and a fiber laser source.

6. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, further comprising a first gain medium between said first and second modulators.

7. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 6, wherein said first gain medium comprises a length of optical fiber doped with a rare-earth element.

8. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second modulators are electro-optical modulators.

9. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, further comprising a first pulse generator connected to the first modulator for transmitting a first drive signal thereto.

10. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 9, wherein the first drive signal defines a plurality of drive pulses of a predetermined width, repetition rate and shape.

11. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined shape is irregular.

12. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined shape is rectangular.

13. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 9, further comprising a second pulse generator connected to the second modulator for transmitting a second drive signal thereto.

14. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 13, wherein the second drive signal defines a plurality of drive pulses of a predetermined width, repetition rate and shape.

15. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined shape is rectangular.

16. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined shape is irregular.

17. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 14, wherein the respective widths of the drive pulses of the first and second drive signals are substantially the same.

18. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 13, wherein said first and second drive signals are synchronized so that said second modulator acts as a gate for the pulses of the pulsed light signal therethrough.

19. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 14, where the repetition rates of the drive pulses of the first and second drive signals are different.

20. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 6, further comprising a second gain medium downstream said second modulator.

21. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 20, wherein said second gain medium comprises a length of optical fiber doped with a rare-earth element.

22. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 1, further comprising at least one power amplification stage downstream said second modulator for amplifying the pulsed light beam therefrom.

23. A pulsed laser light source, comprising:

a continuous wave laser light source for generating a continuous light beam;

a pulse generation stage optically coupled to said continuous wave light source for receiving said continuous light beam therefrom, said pulse generation stage comprising a first modulator for temporally modulating said continuous light beam so as to generate a plurality of optical pulses having a pulse shape, said optical pulses defining a pulsed light beam, and a first gain medium for amplifying said pulsed light beam; and

a pulse shaping stage optically coupled to the pulse generation stage for receiving said pulsed light beam therefrom, said pulse shaping stage comprising a second modulator for temporally modulating said pulsed light beam in at least a partial synchronization with said first modulator so as to further determine the pulse shape of said optical pulses, and a second gain medium downstream said second modulator for further amplifying said pulsed light beam.

24. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, wherein said continuous wave laser light source comprises a laser diode.

25. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 24, wherein said continuous wave laser light source is spectrally tunable.

26. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, wherein said continuous wave laser light source comprises a superfluorescent light source.

27. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, wherein said continuous wave laser light source comprises one of a bulk laser source and a fiber laser source.

28. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, wherein said first and second gain media each comprises a length of optical fiber doped with a rare-earth element.

29. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 28, wherein the rare earth element of said first gain medium is ytterbium and the rare earth element of said second gain medium is neodymium.

30. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second modulators are electro-optical modulators.

31. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, wherein said pulse generation stage further comprises a first pulse generator connected to the first modulator for transmitting a first drive signal thereto.

32. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 31, wherein the first drive signal defines a plurality of drive pulses of a predetermined width, repetition rate and shape.

33. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 31, wherein said pulse shaping stage further comprises a second pulse generator connected to the second modulator for transmitting a second drive signal thereto.

34. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 33, wherein the second drive signal defines a plurality of drive pulses of a predetermined width, repetition rate and shape.

35. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 34, wherein the respective widths of the drive pulses of the first and second drive signals are substantially the same.

36. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 33, wherein said first and second drive signals are synchronized so that said second modulator acts as a gate for the pulses of the pulsed light signal therethrough.

37. The pulsed laser light source according to claim 23, further comprising at least one power amplification stage downstream said pulse shaping stage for further amplifying the pulsed light beam therefrom.