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. 02, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 27, 2002
Timothy J. Carrig, Lafayette, CO (US);
Allen K. Hankla, Lafayette, CO (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A hybrid slab laser is made using a slab of active laser material, for instance Yb:YAG, capped by a nonactive material, for instance undoped YAG or sapphire. The two materials are bonded together, for instance by diffusion bonding. The composite slab is then cut and polished to serve as a laser gain module. The slab can be Brewster-cut or flat-flat and antireflection coated on the ends. Alternatively, the nonactive material can be sandwiched between two active regions. The slab is pumped from the top face like a disk laser or from the end like a longitudinally pumped slab. The slab could also be side-pumped using close coupled diodes. The preferred pumping mechanism depends on the pump source used. The slab generates or amplifies a laser beam that is longitudinally coupled into the device through the end (possibly Brewster-cut) surfaces. The laser beam bounces via total internal reflection within the slab passing one or more times through the active part(s) of the medium. The active region can vary in thickness. The thickness is chosen to minimize thermal and/or stress gradients in the material.