Laser resonator system using offner relay

• US 6,678,308 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Matthews, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Quyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US10/236,770
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 372/98, 372/69-75, 372/95, 372/99
• US Class Current: 372/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0401 of optical elements being part of laser resonator, e.g. windows, mirrors, lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/07 consisting of a plurality of parts, e.g. segments H01S3/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0813 Configuration of resonator
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0817 having 5 reflectors, e.g. W-shaped resonators

Abstract

The laser resonator system includes a first reflector; a second reflector; at least a first gain medium; a second gain medium; and, an Offner relay system. The first gain medium and the second gain medium are operatively positioned relative to the first and the second reflectors. The first and second gain media generate a laser beam. The Offner relay system is operatively positioned between the first and the second gain media for relaying the laser beam between the first and the second gain media. The laser resonator system uses the Offner relay system for optimal transmission of the laser beam between the two gain media.

Claims

1. A laser resonator system comprising:

a) a first reflector comprising an output coupler;

b) a second reflector comprising a high reflector;

c) at least a first gain medium and a second gain medium operatively positioned relative to said first and said second reflectors, said first and second gain media for generating a laser beam; and

,

d) an Offner relay system operatively positioned between said first and said second gain media for relaying said laser beam between said first an said second gain media.

2. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector is positioned adjacent said second reflector and said first gain medium and said second gain medium are positioned in parallel.

3. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector is positioned adjacent said second reflector and said first gain medium and said second gain medium are positioned in parallel, said first gain medium providing a first diverging output beam, said Offner relay system, comprising:

a) a primary mirror having positive power for reflecting said first diverging output beam, the reflected first diverging output beam being reflected from a first location on said primary mirror; and

,

b) a secondary mirror having negative power for reflecting the reflected first diverging output beam from said first location on said primary mirror to a second location on said primary mirror, said first diverging output beam then being reflected from said second location on said primary mirror toward said second gain medium,

wherein said second gain medium provides a second diverging output beam having a coincident path with said first diverging output beam but having a reverse direction.

4. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector is positioned opposite said second reflector relative to said Offner relay system and said first gain medium and said second gain medium are collinearly positioned.

5. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector is positioned opposite said second reflector relative to said Offner relay system and said first gain medium and said second gain medium are collinearly positioned, said first gain medium providing a first diverging output beam, said Offner relay system, comprising:

a) a first turning mirror for turning said first diverging output beam;

b) a primary mirror having positive power for reflecting the turned first diverging output beam from said first turning mirror, the first diverging output beam being reflected from a first location on said primary mirror;

c) a secondary mirror having negative power for reflecting the reflected first diverging output beam from said first location on said primary mirror to a second location on said primary mirror; and

,

d) a second turning mirror for turning the reflected first diverging output beam from said second location to said second gain medium,

wherein said second gain medium provides a second diverging output beam having a coincident path with said first diverging output beam but having a reverse direction.

6. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector is positioned opposite said second reflector relative to said Offner relay system and said first gain medium and said second gain medium are collinearly positioned along an gain medium axis, said Offner relay system being rotatable about said gain medium axis.

7. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector comprises an output coupler and said second reflector comprises a high reflector.

8. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first gain medium comprises a solid state gain medium.

9. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first gain medium comprises a gaseous gain medium.

10. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first gain medium comprises a chemical gain medium.

11. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first gain medium comprises a plasma gain medium.

12. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said first gain medium comprises a diode-pumped solid state gain medium.

13. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said generated laser beam comprises a high-power laser beam.

14. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said generated laser beam comprises a high-power laser beam in a range of between about 500 watts to about 1,500 watts.

15. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said generated laser beam comprises a high-power laser beam of about 1 kilowatt.

16. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said Offner relay system comprises a cooling system for cooling.

17. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said generated laser beam operates in the infrared spectrum.

18. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said generated laser beam operates in the visible spectrum.

19. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said generated laser beam operates in the ultraviolet spectrum.

20. The laser resonator system of claim 1, wherein said Offner relay system comprises a primary mirror system including two primary mirrors.

21. A laser resonator system, comprising:

a) a first reflector comprising an output coupler;

b) a second reflector comprising a high reflector;

c) at least a first gain medium and a second gain medium operatively positioned relative to said first and said second reflectors, said first and second gain media for generating a laser beam, said first reflector being positioned adjacent said second reflector and said first gain medium and said second gain medium being positioned in parallel, said first gain medium comprising a diode-pumped solid state gain medium and providing a first diverging output beam; and

,

d) an Offner relay system operatively positioned between said first and said second gain media for relaying said laser beam between said first and said second gain media, said Offner relay system, comprising;

i) a primary mirror having positive power for reflecting said first diverging output beam, the reflected first diverging output beam being reflected from a first location on said primary minor; and

,

ii) a secondary mirror having negative power for reflecting the reflected first diverging output beam from said first location on said primary mirror to a second location on said primary mirror, said first diverging output beam then being reflected from said second laocation on said primary mirror toward said second gain medium,

wherein said second gain medium provides a second diverging output beam having a coincident path with said first diverging output beam but having a reverse direction.

22. A resonator system for generating a laser beam in a laser system, the resonator system comprising:

a first reflector having an output coupler configured to provide the laser beam to the laser system;

a second reflector;

at least a first gain medium and a second gain medium optically positioned between to the first and the second reflectors, respectively, wherein the first and second gain media are configured to generate the laser beam; and

,

an Offner relay system optically positioned between the first and second gain media, wherein the Offner relay system is configured to relay the laser beam between the first and second gain media to thereby complete an optical path between the first and second reflectors.

23. The resonator system of claim 22 wherein the Offner relay system comprises a primary mirror and a secondary mirror.

24. The resonator system of claim 22 wherein the Offner relay system comprises a cooling system coupled to the primary and secondary mirrors.

25. The resonator system of claim 24 wherein the cooling system comprises an active cooling system.

26. The resonator system of claim 24 wherein the cooling system comprises a passive cooling system.