University of California

David C Thompson

Charlie E Strauss

Tsutomu Shimada

George E Busch

Carl W Wilson

Dennis K Remelius

Thomas J Zaugg

The present invention describes the use of a pair of acoustooptic devices in a laser or other optical resonator to produce a wavelength-dependent deflection of the light without incurring a net frequency shift. This permits rapid electronic tuning of the resonator wavelength, as well as rapid electronic variation of cavity loss, out-coupling fraction, and round-trip phase shift. The dispersive quality of acoustooptic devices in transmission is utilized as a reflection grating substitute. Two mirrors, one an output coupler, a gain medium and two acoustooptic devices arranged for maximum efficiency such that the incident and diffracted beams are approximately at the Bragg angle for each acoustooptic device permit the laser wavelength to be determined by the acoustic frequency.

Growing community of inventors

Los Alamos, NM, United States of America

David C Thompson