Multiple-Reflection Delay Line For A Laser Beam And Resonator Or Short Pulse Laser Device Comprising A Delay Line Of This Type

• US 20080013587A1
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: High Q Laser Gmbh (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: High Q Laser Gmbh (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tempea, Gabriel, Stingl, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US11/576,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/93
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0606 with polygonal cross-section, e.g. slab, prism H01S3/0604 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0615 Shape of end-face
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/07 consisting of a plurality of parts, e.g. segments H01S3/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08004 incorporating a dispersive element, e.g. a prism for wavelength selection H01S3/0811, H01S3/08022 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08013 Resonator comprising a fibre, e.g. for modifying dispersion or repetition rate the active medium being a fibre H01S3/067
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0813 Configuration of resonator
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/1112 Passive mode locking
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/1118 Semiconductor saturable absorbers, e.g. semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors [SESAMs]; Solid-state saturable absorbers, e.g. carbon nanotube [CNT] based
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/17 amorphous, e.g. glass

Abstract

A multiple-reflection delay line member for a laser beam, including mirror elements for the multiple reflection of the laser beam to reduce the dimensions of a laser resonator at a predetermined optical length, wherein the mirror elements are comprised of two oppositely arranged, longitudinally extending polished surfaces of a glass element which extends in one direction and which further comprises a polished laser beam entry surface as well as a polished laser beam exit surface, wherein the mirror element surfaces of the glass element are located between the entry surface and the exit surface and, with the laser beam, form an angle that at least equals the critical angle for total reflection, whereas the entry surface and the exit surface with the laser beam of the glass element define an angle that is smaller than the critical angle for total reflection.

Claims

1. A multiple-reflection delay line member for a laser beam, including mirror elements for the multiple reflection of the laser beam to reduce the dimensions of a laser resonator at a predetermined optical length, wherein the mirror elements are comprised of two oppositely arranged, longitudinally extending polished surfaces of a glass element which extends in one direction and further comprises a polished laser beam entry surface as well as a polished laser beam exit surface, wherein the mirror element surfaces of the glass element are located between the entry surface and the exit surface and, with the laser beam, form an angle that at least equals the critical angle for total reflection, whereas the entry surface and the exit surface with the laser beam of the glass element define an angle that is smaller than the critical angle for total reflection.

2. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the polished mirror element surfaces of the glass element are parallel with each other.

3. A delay line member according to claim 2, wherein the polished mirror element surfaces of the glass element have a relative distance of at least thirty times the mean wavelength of the laser beam in the glass element.

4. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam entry surface, and the laser beam exit surface, of the glass element are parallel with each other.

5. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the glass element, on the polished mirror element surface outer sides, is provided with a multi-layer coating that causes a given group delay dispersion for the reflected laser beam.

6. A delay line member according to claim 5, wherein the group delay dispersion caused by the multilayer coating of the glass element is constant.

7. A delay line member according to claim 5, the group delay dispersion caused by the multilayer coating of the glass element is frequency-dependent.

8. A delay line member according to claim 5, wherein the group delay dispersion caused by the multilayer coating of the glass element is negative and in terms of absolute value is equal to or larger than the positive group delay dispersion of the overall path of the laser beam in the glass element without multilayer coating.

9. A delay line member according to claim 5, wherein the multilayer coating of the glass element is formed with SiO2 and TiO2 layers.

10. A delay line member according to claim 5, wherein the multilayer coating of the glass element is formed with SiO2 and Nb2O5 layers.

11. A delay line member according to claim 5, wherein the multilayer coating of the glass element is formed with SiO2 and Ta2O5 layers.

12. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the glass element is made of quartz glass.

13. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the glass element is made of BK7 glass.

14. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the glass element is made of CaF2 glass.

15. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the entry and exit surfaces of the glass element form a Brewster angle with the laser beam.

16. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the entry and exit surfaces of the glass element are provided with an antireflection coating.

17. A delay line member according to claim 1, wherein the glass element is comprised of a glass rod.

18. A laser resonator for short-pulse laser generation comprising a laser crystal and laser mirrors as well as at least one delay line member according to claim 1.

19. A short-pulse laser device with preferably passive mode locking, comprising a resonator including a laser crystal and a plurality of laser mirrors, wherein at least one delay line member according to claim 1 is provided in the resonator.