University of Illinois

Jose A Rivera

J Gary Eden

Tom Galvin

Austin Steinforth

A resonator is provided that includes opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated to confine reflections for gain. A gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. A pump pumps the gain medium. At least one microrefractive element, or tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or more, stabilizes the resonator. The refractive element is disposed between the opposing mirrors and is configured to support a laser beam at a position of the refractive element. A method for producing laser light directs pump light onto one or a plurality of microrefractive elements. Reflections from the one or a plurality of microrefractive elements are confined in a resonator volume. Gain is provided in the resonator volume. Laser energy is emitted from the resonator volume.

Micro-refractive element stabilized resonators, lasers and multiple beam lasing

A light source for an imaging system. The light source includes a microresonator laser array having opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to one another. A laser gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. An array of microrefractive elements is arranged to stabilize the microresonator. A pump laser's output is shaped by a lens that directs it toward the micro-resonator laser array. An output lens directs a plurality of laser beams from the microresonator laser array to be incoherently combined at an object to be illuminated.

Growing community of inventors

Savoy, IL, United States of America

Jose A Rivera