Fabry-perot pulsed laser having a switchable loop reflector
First Claim
1. A pulsed Fabry-Perot laser comprisingfirst and second reflectors forming a resonator,a gain medium disposed in said resonator,a source of pump energy coupled to said gain medium to cause said medium to generate lasing radiation,said first reflector comprising a waveguide loop, an optical device disposed in said loop to cause said radiation to be generated in the form of pulses, and a coupler for coupling said loop to said gain medium, characterized in that:
- said device comprises a switchable unidirectional optical device.
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Abstract
In a pulsed Fabry-Perot laser, such as a Q-switched laser or a mode-locked laser, one of the resonator reflectors comprises a waveguide loop coupled to the gain medium via a polarization splitter/combiner. In one embodiment, only a switchable isolator is located in the loop, thereby significantly reducing insertion loss.
13 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A pulsed Fabry-Perot laser comprising
first and second reflectors forming a resonator, a gain medium disposed in said resonator, a source of pump energy coupled to said gain medium to cause said medium to generate lasing radiation, said first reflector comprising a waveguide loop, an optical device disposed in said loop to cause said radiation to be generated in the form of pulses, and a coupler for coupling said loop to said gain medium, characterized in that: said device comprises a switchable unidirectional optical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A Fabry-Perot pulsed laser comprising
first and second reflectors forming a resonator, a gain medium disposed within resonator, a source of pumping energy coupled to said gain medium to generate lasing radiation, said first reflector comprising a waveguide loop, a polarization splitter-combiner (PSC) for coupling said loop to said gain medium, said PSC being a multi-port device having two ports coupled to said loop and one port coupled to said gain medium, said second reflector comprising a partially transmissive grating from which the output of said laser emerges, an essentially 45° - polarization rotator disposed between said gain medium and said second reflector,
a switchable isolator disposed in said loop, said isolator having a first state which permits radiation to propagate in one direction in said loop and a second state which inhibits radiation from propagating in said loop, and a controller for switching said isolator between said states.
- polarization rotator disposed between said gain medium and said second reflector,
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9. A Fabry-Perot pulsed laser comprising
first and second reflectors forming a resonator, a gain medium disposed within resonator, a source of pumping energy coupled to said gain medium to generate lasing radiation, said first reflector comprising a waveguide loop, said second reflector comprising essentially a fully reflective grating, and a polarization splitter-combiner (PSC) for coupling said loop to said gain medium, said PSC being a multi-port device having two ports coupled to said loop, one port coupled to said gain medium, and one port coupled to the output of said laser, an essentially 45° - polarization rotator disposed between said gain medium and said second reflector,
a switchable isolator disposed in said loop, said isolator having a first state which permits radiation to propagate in one direction in said loop and a second state which inhibits radiation from propagating in said loop, and a controller for switching said isolator between said states.
- polarization rotator disposed between said gain medium and said second reflector,
Specification