The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1992
Leon Esterowitz, Springfield, VA (US);
Joseph F Pinto, Laurel, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A continuous wave modelocked laser is provided which generates output pul having a duration in the picosecond range at a repetition rate in the MHz to GHz ranges. The laser includes a laser cavity defined by spaced, opposed reflective member forming a reflective path therebetween; a host laser crystal disposed in the cavity; an acousto-optic modulator disposed between the host laser crystal and one reflective member for modulating the output of the host laser crystal; and a birefringent filter, disposed in the laser cavity between the host laser crystal and the one reflective member, for tuning the laser emission to any one of a plurality of wavelengths within a range between 1.86 .mu.m and 2.14 .mu.m. A pump source pumps the host laser crystal at a wavelength of substantially 785 nm. A collimating plano-convex lens is disposed so that the planar face thereof faces the laser crystal. A mechanical device adjusts the length of the reflective path by axially displacing the one reflective member in the laser cavity so as to match the cavity round trip time to the second harmonic of the drive frequency of the acoustic-optic modulator.