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:
Oct. 09, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 29, 2003
Robert S. Williamson, Iii, Madison, WI (US);
Robert S. Williamson, III, Madison, WI (US);
New Focus, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for linewidth broadening applied to a laser that emits a light having an output frequency ν and an emission linewidth δ. The apparatus is equipped with an electro-optic modulator for intercepting the light and a noise generator for driving the electro-optic modulator with a radio-frequency (RF) noise signal spanning a frequency range selected to broaden the emission linewidth δof the light passing through the electro-optic modulator to a broadened linewidth δ. The noise spectrum of the noise signal exhibits a continuous frequency range and can be flat or sloping. The range extends from low frequency ωset below the emission linewidth δof the light to a high frequency ωset above the emission linewidth δof the light. The electro-optic modulator can be selected from among many suitable devices including optical crystals. Further broadening can be achieved by employing one or more secondary EOMs operating in resonant or non-resonant modes. The lasers that benefit from the invention involve any type of inherently narrow bandwidth lasers operating in CW or pulsed modes.