TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A FREQUENCY CONVERTED DIODE LASER
First Claim
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1. A frequency converted laser system, comprising:
- a laser system configured to produce a laser beam having a first frequency, said laser system comprising an optical medium comprising a Bragg grating;
a waveguide comprising at least one nonlinear material, said waveguide being configured to receive an input laser beam of a first frequency from said diode laser system and emit an output laser beam having a second frequency, the second frequency different than the first frequency; and
a power control system optically coupled with said waveguide and configured to monitor said output laser beam, said power control system being configured to provide a first signal indicative of noise in said output laser beam; and
a temperature control system connected to said power control system to receive said first signal, said temperature control system comprisinga first temperature controlled element connected to said waveguide for controlling the temperature of the frequency converter, anda controller configured to control the temperature of said temperature control element,wherein said temperature control system is configured to adjust the temperature of said first temperature controlled element to reduce noise in said output laser beam based on said first signal.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods of controlling a frequency-converted diode laser system are disclosed. The diode laser systems can include embodiments of thermally coupled elements facilitating temperature stabilization. Aspects of some methods include monitoring the output of a stabilized diode laser system to reduce noise of the output laser beam. Other aspects of some methods include adjusting the temperature of a frequency converter based on noise in the output beam, and/or the current provided to drive the diode laser. Systems incorporating such control aspects, and others, are also disclosed.
35 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A frequency converted laser system, comprising:
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a laser system configured to produce a laser beam having a first frequency, said laser system comprising an optical medium comprising a Bragg grating; a waveguide comprising at least one nonlinear material, said waveguide being configured to receive an input laser beam of a first frequency from said diode laser system and emit an output laser beam having a second frequency, the second frequency different than the first frequency; and a power control system optically coupled with said waveguide and configured to monitor said output laser beam, said power control system being configured to provide a first signal indicative of noise in said output laser beam; and a temperature control system connected to said power control system to receive said first signal, said temperature control system comprising a first temperature controlled element connected to said waveguide for controlling the temperature of the frequency converter, and a controller configured to control the temperature of said temperature control element, wherein said temperature control system is configured to adjust the temperature of said first temperature controlled element to reduce noise in said output laser beam based on said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A frequency converted laser system, comprising:
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a laser system configured to produce a laser beam having a first frequency, said laser system comprising an optical medium comprising a Bragg grating; a waveguide comprising at least one nonlinear material, said waveguide being configured to receive an input laser beam of a first frequency from said laser system and emit an output laser beam having a second frequency, the second frequency different than the first frequency; and a power control system optically coupled with said waveguide and configured to monitor said output laser beam, said power control system being configured to provide a first signal indicative of power in said output laser beam; and a diode control system connected to said power control system to receive said first signal, said diode control system configured to control a drive current supplied to drive said laser system based on said first signal; and a temperature control system connected to said diode control system to receive a second signal indicative of said drive current level, said temperature control system comprising a first temperature controlled element connected to said waveguide for controlling the temperature of the frequency converter, and a controller configured to control the temperature of said temperature control element, wherein said temperature control system is configured to adjust the temperature of said first temperature controlled element to reduce said drive current. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for reducing noise in a laser system having frequency converter, comprising:
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monitoring a frequency converted output laser beam; detecting a noise component of said output laser beam; determining a noise value indicative of said noise component; and adjusting the temperature of the frequency converter to reduce said noise value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for operating a frequency-converted diode laser system, the method comprising:
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monitoring a laser beam from the frequency converted diode laser system; determining a power value indicative of the output power of said laser beam; providing an amount of current to said laser diode system responsive to said power value such that said provided current amount maintains said output power at a predetermined level; and if said current amount exceeds a threshold value, adjusting the temperature of a frequency converter to reduce said current amount while maintaining said output power at said predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for reducing noise and efficiently operating a frequency converted laser system, the method comprising:
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monitoring a frequency converted laser beam output; monitoring an amount of current provided to drive said laser system to produce said laser beam output; determining an AC component and a DC component of said monitored laser beam output, the magnitude of the AC component being indicative of output noise of said monitored laser beam output, and the DC component being indicative of power of said monitored laser beam output; and adjusting the temperature of a frequency converter responsive to said AC component and said DC component to reduce the output noise of said laser beam output, and to reduce said amount of current.
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24. A method of operating a frequency converted laser system laser controlled by a power control system that regulates drive current supplied to drive the laser system to produce a laser beam having consistent output power, the method comprising:
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storing a first current value indicative of a low amount of said drive current used to produce a laser beam output having a first power level; storing a temperature value indicative of the temperature of a frequency converter while producing the laser beam having said first power level; monitoring a second current provided to the diode laser; determining if a difference between said first current value and said second current exceeds a threshold value; and if the difference exceeds the threshold value, adjusting the temperature of the frequency converter to reduce said drive current while maintaining said first power level of the laser beam output.
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Specification