COMPACT, THERMALLY STABLE MULTI-LASER ENGINE

• US 20110134949A1
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idex Health & Science LLC (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Melles Griot, Inc.
• Inventors: Hargis, David E., Miller, Steven Lee, O'Shaughnessy, John, Lin, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/005 Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping shaping laser beam for working metal or other materials B23K26/06; optical elements, systems or apparatus in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/025 of solid state lasers, e.g. housings or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/027 comprising a special atmosphere inside the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2383 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2391 emitting at different wavelengths

Abstract

Various embodiments of a multi-laser system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the multi-laser system includes a plurality of lasers, a plurality of laser beams, a beam positioning system, a thermally stable enclosure, and a temperature controller. The thermally stable enclosure is substantially made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as at least 5 W/(m K). The thermally stable enclosure can help maintain alignment of the laser beams to a target object over a range of ambient temperatures.

Claims

1. A compact, thermally stable multi-laser system, comprising:

a plurality of lasers outputting a plurality of respective laser beams;

a beam positioning system configured to reposition a plurality of said laser beams;

a thermally stable enclosure enclosing the plurality of lasers and the beam positioning system, the thermally stable enclosure substantially comprising a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/(m K), the thermally stable enclosure configured to maintain alignment of the laser beams to a target object over a range of ambient temperatures; and

a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the thermally stable enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally stable enclosure is configured to thermally and mechanically couple to the target object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature controller is configured to control the temperature of the target object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a flow cell.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermally stable enclosure has a coefficient of thermal expansion and wherein a mounting mechanism for the target object has a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermally stable enclosure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises an optical fiber.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the thermally stable enclosure encloses a portion of the optical fiber.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the thermally stable enclosure has a coefficient of thermal expansion and wherein a mounting system for the optical fiber has a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermally stable enclosure.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the laser beams are co-linear at the optical fiber.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises an optical fiber in an adjuster mount configured to couple the laser beams into the optical fiber.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the thermally stable enclosure has a coefficient of thermal expansion and wherein the adjuster mount has a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermally stable enclosure.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the laser beams are co-linear at the adjuster mount.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein relative heights of the lasers are configured to assist in relative positioning of the laser beams at the target object.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser beams have centers separated by between about 100 μ

m and about 500 μ

m of one another at the target object.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally stable enclosure encloses beam focusing optics configured to focus the plurality of laser beams.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the beam focusing optics includes an achromatic and anamorphic lens system configured to provide a laser beam with an elliptical shape at the target object.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the beam focusing optics includes an achromatic spherical lens configured to provide a laser beam with an elliptical shape at the target object.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the beam focusing optics includes an anamorphic prism system configured to provide a laser beam with an elliptical shape at the target object.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the focused laser beams have respective focused spot sizes of between about 50 μ

m and about 150 μ

m in one direction.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the focused laser beams have respective focused spot sizes of between 5 μ

m and 25 μ

m in one direction.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lasers comprises at least one diode laser.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lasers comprises at least one solid-state laser.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lasers comprises at least one frequency-doubled laser.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser beams comprises at least a first laser beam at a first wavelength, a second laser beam at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a third laser beam at a third wavelength different from the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam positioning system comprises a plurality of wavelength selective mirrors configured to reflect at least one wavelength and to transmit at least one other wavelength.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam positioning system comprises one or more prisms with wavelength selective surfaces configured to reflect at least one wavelength and to transmit at least one other wavelength.

51. The system of claim 1, further comprising flexure mounts supporting the beam positioning system.

73. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of beam adjusters configured to align the laser beams prior to entering the beam positioning system.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein said a plurality of beam adjusters comprises a plurality of rotatable Risley prism pairs configured to change the angle of the laser beams.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein at least one of yaw, pitch, and separation between at least one of said Risley prism pairs is adjustable.

77. The system of claim 73, wherein said plurality of beam adjusters comprises a plurality of plane parallel plates configured to shift the laser beams in at least one direction.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein at least one of said plane parallel plates is adjustable.

100. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser beams are collimated or focused at the target object, wherein the laser beams are parallel, converging, diverging, or co-linear at the target object, wherein the laser beams have centers separated by substantially equal separations or separated by different separations at the target object, and wherein the laser beams have angles separated by substantially equal separations or separated by different separations at the target object.

115. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic power control module in communication with each said laser.

117. The system of claim 1, wherein polarization rotators or waveplates may be used to rotate the laser beam polarization to obtain a laser beam polarization orientation with respect to the laser beam geometry that enhances system performance.

123. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature controller is configured to hold a temperature within the thermally stable enclosure within about ±

3°

C. of a target temperature.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein the target temperature is between about 10°

C. and about 50°

C.

125. The system of claim 123, wherein the thermally stable enclosure is configured to to thermally couple to the target object.

133. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally stable enclosure is hermetically sealed.

138. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature controller comprises a thermal electric cooler, a temperature sensor, and control electronics.

139. The system of claim 1, wherein the range of ambient temperatures is between about 10°

C. and about 55°

C.

141. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally stable enclosure has a volume of 216 in³ or less.

146. The system of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a light pipe.

150. The system of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a waveguide.

154. The system of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a lab on a chip.

158. The system of claim 1, further comprising glue-block mounts supporting the beam positioning system.

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160. A method of adjusting a plurality of incoming laser beams, the method comprising:

using Risley prisms to redirect the plurality of incoming laser beams by changing elevation angles and azimuthal angles of the plurality of incoming laser beams;

using plane parallel plates to change the lateral position of the plurality of incoming laser beams; and

using a beam positioning system to reposition the plurality of incoming laser beams closer together.

161. The system of claim 160, wherein the beam positioning system comprises a plurality of wavelength selective mirrors.

162. A compact, thermally stable laser system, comprising:

a laser outputting a laser beam;

a beam adjuster configured to reposition the laser beam;

a thermally stable enclosure enclosing the laser and the beam adjuster, the thermally stable enclosure substantially comprising a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/(m K), the thermally stable enclosure configured to maintain alignment of the laser beam to a target object over a range of ambient temperatures; and

a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the thermally stable enclosure.