Optical system and method for performing a defined function on an optical beam having at least one of a minimized volume or reduced operating temperature

Abstract

The present invention provides optical systems and methods that use a plurality of optical reflectors to fold the optical path of an optical beam used in the optical system. By folding the optical path of the optical beam, the optical system and method of the present invention can in one instance minimize the over-all volume and mass of the optical system. Specifically, the present invention provides an optical amplifier that has a plurality of active and passive reflectors. The passive reflectors are oriented to fold the optical beam in a minimized volume and direct the optical beam repeatedly at the active reflectors to amplify the optical beam to a selected power level. The folding aspects of the optical reflectors may also decrease the operating temperature of the optical system. Specifically, the present invention also provides an optical system having active and passive reflectors where the active reflectors are spaced apart from each other such that the optical system may operate at decreased temperature. In this embodiment, the passive reflectors are oriented to direct the optical beam to the spaced-apart active reflectors. Further, the optical systems and methods of the present invention may also create a laser gyroscope having three optical beam paths for sensing rotation in three coordinate directions. This optical system has optical reflectors positioned to fold each of the optical beams into helical propagation paths. The optical paths are spaced closely together, such that the optical beams propagate within the defined volume of the optical system.