Outcoupler with bragg grating and system and method using same

• US 20060187535A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander A. Betin, Oleg M. Efimov
• Original Assignee: Alexander A. Betin, Oleg M. Efimov
• Inventors: Betin, Alexander A., Efimov, Oleg M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,626,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/333
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08009 using a diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/083 Ring lasers fibre ring lasers H01S3/06791
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/10076 using optical phase conjugation, e.g. phase conjugate reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2316 Cascaded amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/235 Regenerative amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/50 Amplifier structures not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30

Abstract

An outcoupler having a wavelength selective, angle sensitive element or Bragg grating and an arrangement for maintaining the element in a predetermined orientation relative to an incident beam of electromagnetic energy. The Bragg grating may be reflective or transmissive. The inventive outcoupler may be used to implement a phase conjugate master oscillator power amplifier with an oscillator; a resonator in operational alignment with the oscillator; and an outcoupler in alignment with the oscillator. In the best mode, second and third Bragg gratings are included within the oscillator and the resonator, respectively.

Claims

1. A power amplifier comprising:

an oscillator;

a resonator in operational alignment with said oscillator; and

an outcoupler in alignment with said oscillator, said outcoupler including a Bragg grating.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said oscillator includes a Bragg grating.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said oscillator includes an amplifier.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said resonator includes a Bragg grating.

5. The invention of claim 1 further including a power amplifier.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said resonator is a phase conjugate mirror.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said phase conjugate mirror is a loop phase conjugate mirror.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a Faraday diode in alignment with said oscillator.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror further includes a second Bragg grating in alignment with said diode.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a nonlinear medium operationally disposed between said diode and said oscillator.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes an amplifier operationally disposed between said medium and said second Bragg grating.

12. A power amplifier comprising:

a master oscillator having a first Bragg grating disposed therein;

a resonator in operational alignment with said oscillator, said resonator having a second Bragg grating; and

an outcoupler in alignment with said oscillator, said outcoupler having a third Bragg grating.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said resonator is a phase conjugate mirror.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said phase conjugate mirror is a loop phase conjugate mirror.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a Faraday diode in alignment with said oscillator.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a nonlinear medium operationally disposed between said diode and said oscillator.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes an amplifier operationally disposed between said medium and said third Bragg grating.