FTIR optical manifold and wavelength agile laser system

Claim 1

An optically pumped frequency agile laser system comprising: (a) a source of optical energy for producing a first laser beam; (b) a plurality of laser sources sequentially designated, 1 through n; (c) a first optical manifold including a plurality of FTIR switches sequentially designated 1 through m wherein: (1) said first laser beam is selectively switched by said first FTIR switch between the output port of said laser system and the input of the second (m=2) of said FTIR switch; (2) said second (m=2) and subsequent FTIR switch through number (m-1) switching said first laser beam between the input to the next higher order FTIR switch and a selected laser with switch (m) switching said laser beam between laser source (n-1) and laser source (n); (d) a second optical manifold comprising a plurality of FTIR switches designated 1 through k (1) the first (k=1) of said plurality of optical switches receiving as inputs said first laser beam and the output beam of one of said n laser sources and selectively coupling one of these inputs to the output port of said laser system; (2) said second (k=2) and subsequent switches receiving as inputs the output beam of laser (n=1) and the output beam of laser source where n≧k and selectively coupling these input signals to the output port of said laser system; (e) control means for controlling the state of said switches to produce said frequency agile output signal.