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:
Jan. 31, 1995
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1994
John J Zayhowski, Pepperell, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling the propagation path of a light beam are disclosed. A lens material having a temperature-dependent index of refraction is positioned in the path of the light beam. A heat source is disposed on one face of the lens material and a heat sink is disposed on the opposite face. A controller regulates the distribution of heat to the heat source and the extraction of heat from the heat sink so that a temperature gradient is formed within the lens material. The temperature gradient creates a refractive-index gradient in the lens material, causing a thermal lensing effect. The device may be used in a laser cavity for controlling laser-beam divergence caused by pump-induced thermal lensing in the gain medium.