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US3924201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser apparatus employing mechanical stabilization means
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-10
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A laser includes a lasing medium and two Porro prism end reflectors with the roofline of each prism being at an angle between about 5* -85* with respect to the plane of polarization and optically perpendicular to each other, to provide mechanical stability. A beam splitter is provided to direct a portion of the energy out of the system, the output power being determined by the angle of rotation of the Porros.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G Crow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059; H01S3/005; H01S3/0071; H01S3/08072; H01S3/081; H01S3/0813; H01S3/0816; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Laser apparatus comprising: an active laser medium; means for producing a population inversion in said laser medium; first and second roofline prisms disposed along said beam for stimulating and supporting the emission of a coherent beam of radiant energy from said laser medium; a beam splitter for polarizing radiant energy along said beam into a plane of polarization and for directing a portion of said radiant energy along an output axis out of said beam splitter; means for maintaining the rooflines of said prisms perpendicular to each other to render said laser apparatus relatively insensitive to mechanical tolerances, shock and vibrations; means for positioning the rooflines fo said prisms at an angle with respect to said plane of polarization, which angle is substantially other than normal to or paralLel with said plane of polarization and lying in a plane normal to the axis of said beam; and wherein said angle is selected to provide a desired output from said beam splitter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Laser apparatus comprising: an active laser medium; means for producing a population inversion in said laser medium; first and second roofline prisms disposed along said beam for stimulating and supporting the emission of a coherent beam of radiant energy from said laser medium; a beam splitter for polarizing radiant energy along said beam into a plane of polarization and for directing a portion of said radiant energy along an output axis out of said beam splitter; means for maintaining the rooflines of said prisms perpendicular to each other to render said laser apparatus relatively insensitive to mechanical tolerances, shock and vibrations; means for positioning the rooflines fo said prisms at an angle with respect to said plane of polarization, which angle is substantially other than normal to or paralLel with said plane of polarization and lying in a plane normal to the axis of said beam; and wherein said angle is selected to provide a desired output from said beam splitter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second roofline prisms comprise first and second Porro prisms, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus recited in claim 2 further comprising phase retarding means interposed between said beam splitter and one of said Porro prisms along said beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 2 further comprising Q-switching means, interposed along said beam between said two Porro prisms for Q-switching said beam of radiant energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said Q-switching means comprises: a body of crystalline material having two opposed faces intersecting and substantially normal to said beam axis; and means for applying a bias voltage across said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said crystalline material consists essentially of lithium niobate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 further comprising means disposed along said beam for controlling the energy density of radiant energy across said beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said energy density controlling means comprises a Galilean telescope interposed on said beam between said laser medium and said roofline prism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second Porro prisms are disposed at about 45 degrees with respect to the plane of polarization and optically perpendicular with respect to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
Laser apparatus comprising: an active laser medium; means for producing a population inversion in said laser medium; means for stimulating and supporting the emission of a coherent beam of radiant energy out of said laser medium; a beam splitter for polarizing light energy along said beam in a plane of polarization and for directing energy out of said beam splitter along an output axis; said stimulating and supporting means comprising a pair of Porro prisms, each of said prisms disposed on an end portion of said beam for supporting laser energy therebetween, the roofline of both of said prisms being disposed approximately 45* relative to said plane of polarization, substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the axis of said beam portion incident thereon; optical beam directing means optically coupled with said prisms for forming a U-shaped resonator axis, said active medium being positioned in one leg of the U-shaped resonator path, the prisms positioned at the ends of the legs; a Pockels Cell Q-switch interposed between said laser medium and one of said Porro prisms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
Laser apparatus comprising: an active laser medium; means for producing a population inversion in said laser medium; means for stimulating and supporting the emission of a coherent beam of radiant energy out of said laser medium; a beam splitter for polarizing light energy along said beam in a plane of polarization and for directing energy out of said beam splitter along an output axis; said stimulating and supporting means comprising a pair of Porro prisms, each of said prisms disposed on an end portion of said beam for supporting laser energy therebetween, the roofline of both of said prisms being disposed approximately 45* relative to said plane of polarization, substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the axis of said beam portion incident thereon; optical beam directing means optically coupled with said prisms for forming a U-shaped resonator axis, said active medium being positioned in one leg of the U-shaped resonator path, the prisms positioned at the ends of the legs; a Pockels Cell Q-switch interposed between said laser medium and one of said Porro prisms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said two 90* reflecting means comprises a trapezoidal quartz prism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11 further comprising a mirror interposed along said output axis for directing light energy along said output axis through the hypotenuse face of said quartz prism.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for rendering laser apparatus mechanically insensitive and for preselecting the output from said laser apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing an active laser medium; disposing two Porro prisms on opposite sides of said laser medium to stimulate and support the emission of a coherent beam of radiant energy from laser medium when a population inversion is produced therein; interposing a beam splitter between said laser medium and one of said Porro prisms for polarizing light energy along said beam into a plane of polarization and for directing light energy out of said beam splitter along an output axis; rotating one of said Porro prisms at an angle with respect to said plane of polarization, which angle is substantially other than normal to or parallel with said plane of polarization and perpendicular to the axis of said beam; positioning the othEr of said Porro prisms so as to have its roofline be perpendicular to the roofline of said one Porro prism to thereby render said laser apparatus rrelatively mechanically insensitive; and selecting said angle to provide the desired output from said beam splitter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for rendering laser apparatus mechanically insensitive and for preselecting the output from said laser apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing an active laser medium; disposing two Porro prisms on opposite sides of said laser medium to stimulate and support the emission of a coherent beam of radiant energy from laser medium when a population inversion is produced therein; interposing a beam splitter between said laser medium and one of said Porro prisms for polarizing light energy along said beam into a plane of polarization and for directing light energy out of said beam splitter along an output axis; rotating one of said Porro prisms at an angle with respect to said plane of polarization, which angle is substantially other than normal to or parallel with said plane of polarization and perpendicular to the axis of said beam; positioning the othEr of said Porro prisms so as to have its roofline be perpendicular to the roofline of said one Porro prism to thereby render said laser apparatus rrelatively mechanically insensitive; and selecting said angle to provide the desired output from said beam splitter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2571937A
Cited
US3373376A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |