Laser intra-cavity electronic wavelength tuner
First Claim
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1. A wavelength-adjustable laser, comprising:
- a. a gain medium for amplifying a laser beam in a wavelength range;
b. a first optical reflector;
c. an acousto-optical modulator located between the gain medium and the first optical reflector such that the acousto-optical modulator diffracts a portion of the laser beam into a plurality of diffracted laser beams wherein each diffracted laser beam diffracts at a different angle from an optical axis formed by the laser beam based on the wavelength of the diffracted laser beam;
d. a second optical reflector and a third optical reflector positioned about the optical axis such that only a selected diffracted laser beam from the plurality of diffracted laser beams is reflected off both the second optical reflector and the third optical reflector into the acousto-optical modulator; and
e. an adjustable radio-frequency source coupled to the acousto-optical modulator wherein the wavelength of the selected diffracted laser beam is changed by adjusting the frequency of a radio signal emitted from the adjustable radio-frequency source.
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Abstract
An apparatus for adjusting the wavelength of a laser capable of lasing at multiple wavelengths by using a single acousto-optical modulator and a pair of optical reflectors inside a laser cavity. By adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the radio-frequency source to the acousto-optical modulator, undesired wavelengths are suppressed in the laser cavity, leaving appreciable gain only at the desired wavelength.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A wavelength-adjustable laser, comprising:
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a. a gain medium for amplifying a laser beam in a wavelength range; b. a first optical reflector; c. an acousto-optical modulator located between the gain medium and the first optical reflector such that the acousto-optical modulator diffracts a portion of the laser beam into a plurality of diffracted laser beams wherein each diffracted laser beam diffracts at a different angle from an optical axis formed by the laser beam based on the wavelength of the diffracted laser beam; d. a second optical reflector and a third optical reflector positioned about the optical axis such that only a selected diffracted laser beam from the plurality of diffracted laser beams is reflected off both the second optical reflector and the third optical reflector into the acousto-optical modulator; and e. an adjustable radio-frequency source coupled to the acousto-optical modulator wherein the wavelength of the selected diffracted laser beam is changed by adjusting the frequency of a radio signal emitted from the adjustable radio-frequency source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for adjusting the wavelength of a laser, comprising the steps of:
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a. positioning an acousto-optical modulator between a gain medium and a first optical reflector; b. coupling an adjustable radio-frequency source to the acousto-optical modulator; and c. positioning a second optical reflector and a third optical reflector about an optical axis formed by an undiffracted laser beam coming from the acousto-optical modulator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification