Spectra-physics Laserplane, Inc.

Daniel R Klemer

Mark D Sobottke

Ted L Teach

Pliny S Hawthorn

Jamie N Lussier

An active etalon comprising a laser gain chip interposed between an input mirror and an etalon end mirror is provided. In an intracavity frequency-doubled solid-state laser, a pump source emits pump radiation which passes through the input mirror and into the laser gain chip. The laser gain chip lases in response to the pump radiation to produce fundamental laser light. The etalon end mirror reflects a portion of the fundamental laser light back into the laser gain chip and transmits the remaining portion of the fundamental laser light into the laser cavity. The input mirror reflects substantially all of the fundamental laser light into the laser gain chip. The portion of the fundamental laser light which passes through the etalon end mirror may be frequency doubled by a frequency doubler chip and a portion thereof transmitted through the front end of the laser cavity to form the output laser beam.

Solid-state laser with active etalon and method therefor

A pipe alignment system and method is provided for positioning a pipe line along a predetermined path. A light transmitter generates a reference light beam along which the pipe line is to be positioned. The light beam has wavelengths substantially in the green portion of the optical spectrum. An optical target is positioned at one end of each pipe section to assist in alignment thereof. Preferably, the optical target has a green tint which filters the green light from ambient light. The optical target may also have reference indicia thereon to assist in aligning the target with the reference beam of light.

Pipe alignment apparatus and method using green light

A solid-state laser comprises a pump diode for generating pump radiation and transmitting the pump radiation into a laser cavity. The pump radiation passes through an entrance mirror and enters a laser gain chip which lases to produce fundamental laser light. The fundamental laser light passes through a harmonic reflector and a first dispersive element and is frequency doubled by a frequency doubler chip to produce harmonic laser light. The harmonic laser light passes through a second dispersive element and impinges on a mirrored surface. A portion of the harmonic laser light passes through the mirrored surface to form the output beam of the laser. The remaining portion of the harmonic laser light is reflected back into the laser cavity. First and second dispersive elements control the phase of the harmonic laser light in the laser cavity such that substantially all of the harmonic laser light is in-phase when the harmonic laser light impinges upon the mirrored surface.

Efficient linear frequency doubled solid-state laser

An intracavity frequency-doubled solid-state laser uses a Nd:GdVO.sub.4 laser gain chip to generate a beam of visible laser light which may have wavelengths substantially in the green portion of the optical spectrum. A back end of the laser cavity is defined by an entrance mirror while a front end of the laser cavity is defined by a mirrored surface. A laser diode generates pump light which is transmitted through the entrance mirror into the laser gain chip. The laser gain chip, which may be immediately adjacent the entrance mirror, emits fundamental laser light having a wavelength of approximately 1063 nm in response to the pump light. A frequency doubler chip positioned immediately adjacent the laser gain chip doubles the frequency of the fundamental laser light to produce harmonic laser light having a wavelength of substantially 532 nm. In a second embodiment, the frequency doubler chip is immediately adjacent to the entrance mirror and the laser gain chip is immediately adjacent to the frequency doubler chip. The mirrored surface reflects a portion of the harmonic laser light back into the laser cavity and transmits a portion of the harmonic laser light from the laser.

Gadolinium vanadate laser

A laser beam target for use with a projector capable of providing a reference laser beam of light traveling in a predetermined path is provided and includes a main body portion having first and second surfaces. A plurality of projections are provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces for directing at least a portion of the reference beam of light into a specific range of vertical viewing angles away from the path of the beam as the light passes from the body, thereby permitting a worker viewing the target to more easily determine when the reference beam of light is in alignment with appropriate reference indicia on the target.

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Dayton, OH, United States of America

Daniel R Klemer