Claims
- 1. A method for amplifying a signal pulse of laser light, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an amplifying medium, said amplifying medium comprising
- (i) an elongated core, said elongated core comprising a non-gaseous medium and a plurality of crystalline particles, said non-gaseous medium having an index of refraction that substantially matches that of the crystalline particles, the crystalline particles being dispersed within the non-gaseous medium and being capable of lasing at the same wavelength as the wavelength of the signal pulse of laser light, and
- (ii) a light-retaining outer structure surrounding said elongated core;
- (b) pumping said elongated core so as to excite the crystalline particles; and
- (c) transmitting the signal pulse of laser light through said elongated core while the crystalline particles are excited;
- (d) whereby the signal pulse of laser light becomes amplified.
- 2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal pulse of laser light has a wavelength in the spectral range between approximately 1100 to 1700 nm.
- 3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the signal pulse of laser light has a wavelength selected from the group consisting of 1.3 .mu.m and 1.55 .mu.m.
- 4. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said crystalline particles are Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles of olivine-like structure or any other Cr.sup.4+ -doped single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice.
- 6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of Cr.sup.4+ :forsterite, Cr.sup.4+ :YAG, Cr.sup.4+ :Ca.sub.2 SiO.sub.4, Cr.sup.4+ :Ca.sub.2 GeO.sub.4 and Cr.sup.4+ :LiAlO.sub.2.
- 7. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are between about 0.05 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m in size.
- 8. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said crystalline particles are V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles of wurtzite structure or any other V.sup.3+ -doped single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice.
- 10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of V.sup.3+ :LiGaO.sub.2 and V.sup.3+ :LiAlO.sub.2.
- 11. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are between about 0.05 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m in size.
- 12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated core is circular in cross-section.
- 13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said elongated core has a diameter of between about 3 .mu.m to about 5 mm.
- 14. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated core is rectangular in cross-section.
- 15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said elongated core is between about 3 .mu.m to about 5 mm thick.
- 16. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated core is about 1 cm to about 2 m in length.
- 17. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the difference between the respective indices of refraction of the crystalline particles and said elongated core is between 0 to about 0.1.
- 18. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the non-gaseous medium is selected from the group consisting of glasses, polymers, gels, and liquids.
- 19. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pumping step comprises pumping said elongated core longitudinally.
- 20. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pumping step comprises pumping said elongated core transversely.
- 21. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pumping step comprises pumping said elongated core with light emitted from a semiconductor laser; a solid-state laser or a flashlamp which emits in the absorption region of the crystalline particles.
- 22. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal pulse of laser light longitudinally through said elongated core.
- 23. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light-retaining outer structure is a cladding.
- 24. The method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the difference between the respective indices of refraction of said non-gaseous medium and said cladding is between about 0.01 and about 0.2.
- 25. An amplifier for amplifying a signal pulse of laser light, said amplifier comprising:
- (a) an amplifying medium, said amplifying medium comprising
- (i) an elongated core, said elongated core comprising a non-gaseous medium and a plurality of crystalline particles, said non-gaseous medium having an index of refraction that substantially matches that of the crystalline particles, the crystalline particles being dispersed within the non-gaseous medium and being capable of lasing at the same wavelength as the wavelength of the signal pulse of laser light, and
- (ii) a light-retaining outer structure surrounding said elongated core; and
- (b) means for pumping said elongated core so as to excite the crystalline particles.
- 26. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein the signal pulse of laser light has a wavelength in the spectral range between approximately 1100 to 1700 nm and wherein said crystalline particles are Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 27. The amplifier as claimed in claim 26 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles of oilvine-like structure or any other Cr.sup.4+ -doped single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice.
- 28. The amplifier as claimed in claim 27 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of Cr.sup.4+ :forsterite, Cr.sup.4+ :YAG, Cr.sup.4+ :Ca.sub.2 SiO.sub.4, Cr.sup.4+ :Ca.sub.2 GeO.sub.4 and Cr.sup.4+ :LiAlO.sub.2.
- 29. The amplifier as claimed in claim 26 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are between about 0.05 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m in size.
- 30. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein the signal pulse of laser light has a wavelength in the spectral range between approximately 1100 to 1700 nm and wherein said crystalline particles are V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 31. The amplifier as claimed in claim 30 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles of wurtzite structure or any other V.sup.3+ -doped single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice.
- 32. The amplifier as claimed in claim 31 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of V.sup.3+ :LiGaO.sub.2 and V.sup.3+ :LiAlO.sub.2.
- 33. The amplifier as claimed in claim 30 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are between about 0.05 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m in size.
- 34. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein said elongated core is circular in cross-section.
- 35. The amplifier as claimed in claim 34 wherein said elongated core has a diameter of about 3 .mu.m to about 5 mm.
- 36. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein said elongated core is rectangular in cross-section.
- 37. The amplifier as claimed in claim 36 wherein said elongated core has a thickness of about 3 .mu.m to about 5 mm.
- 38. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein said elongated core is about 1 cm to about 2 m in length.
- 39. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein said non-gaseous medium is a solid.
- 40. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein said non-gaseous medium is a liquid or a gel.
- 41. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein the difference between the respective indices of refraction of said non-gaseous medium and said crystalline particles is between 0 and about 0.1.
- 42. The amplifier as claimed in claim 25 wherein said light-retaining outer structure is a cladding.
- 43. The amplifier as claimed in claim 41 wherein the difference between the respective indices of refraction of said non-gaseous medium and said cladding is between 0.01 and about 0.2.
- 44. A laser comprising:
- (a) a laser medium, said laser medium comprising
- (i) an elongated core, said elongated core comprising a non-gaseous medium and a plurality of crystalline particles, said non-gaseous medium having an index of refraction that substantially matches that of the crystalline particles, the crystalline particles being dispersed within the non-gaseous medium and being capable of lasing, and
- (ii) a light-retaining outer structure surrounding said elongated core;
- (b) a pair of end mirrors disposed at opposite ends of said elongated core; and
- (c) means for pumping said elongated core so as to excite the crystalline particles to emit coherent optical radiation.
- 45. The laser as claimed in claim 44 wherein said crystalline particles are Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 46. The laser as claimed in claim 45 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles of olivine-like structure or any other Cr.sup.4+ -doped single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice.
- 47. The laser as claimed in claim 46 wherein said Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of Cr.sup.4+ :forsterite, Cr.sup.4+ :YAG, Cr.sup.4+ :Ca.sub.2 SiO.sub.4, Cr.sup.4+ :Ca.sub.2 GeO.sub.4 and Cr.sup.4+ :LiAlO.sub.2.
- 48. The laser as claimed in claim 44 wherein said crystalline particles are V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 49. The laser as claimed in claim 48 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are V3+-doped crystalline particles of wurtzite structure or any other V.sup.3+ -doped single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice.
- 50. The laser as claimed in claim 49 wherein said V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of V.sup.3+ :LiGaO.sub.2 and V.sup.3+ :LiAlO.sub.2.
- 51. An optical amplifier for the 1.3 .mu.m and 1.55 .mu.m wavelengths comprising:
- a. an amplifying gain medium comprising 0.05 -.mu.m to 500 -.mu.m size crystalline particles of trivalent vanadium (V).sup.3+ -doped laser crystal suspended in a nearly index matching transparent material, and
- b. optical means for exciting said amplifying medium with wavelengths in the absorption region of said V.sup.3+ -doped crystallites.
- 52. A laser for the 1.3 .mu.m and 1.55 .mu.m wavelengths comprising:
- a. an amplifying laser medium comprising 0.05-.mu.m to 500-.mu.m size crystalline particles of trivalent vanadium (V.sup.3+)-doped laser crystal suspended in a nearly index matching transparent material,
- b. optical means for exciting said amplifying medium with wavelengths in the absorption region of said (V.sup.3+)-doped crystallites, and
- c. a pair of end mirrors disposed at opposite ends of said amplifying laser medium.
- 53. V.sup.3+ doped crystallites of wurtzite structure of formula (A)(M)O.sub.2, (where A.dbd.Li, Na, or K;M.dbd.Al or Ga).
- 54. An active medium for use in a laser and an amplifier comprising a single crystal of dielectric material doped with vanadium ions in the trivalent state, the single crystal being a crystal of wurtzite structure of formula (A)(M)O.sub.2, (where A.dbd.Li, Na, or K;M.dbd.Al or Ga).
- 55. A laser medium or amplifier medium comprising:
- a. a flexible hollow or solid cylindrical structure with a core diameter ranging from 3 .mu.m for amplification in a single-mode fiber systems up to few mm for multimode fiber systems with a larger outside diameter,
- b. a gain medium comprising V.sup.3+ -doped crystallites of submicron and micron size suspended in an index-matching glass, polymer, plastic, or liquid in the core, and
- c. a structure surrounding the core made of plastic, glass, or polymer material with refractive index lower than the core to trap the radiation inside the core, the inside or the outside of the surrounding structure being coated with a high reflectivity, low loss metallic or dielectric material to enhance amplification and confinement.
- 56. An article of manufacture comprising a non-gaseous medium and a plurality of crystalline particles, said non-gaseous medium having an index of refraction that substantially matches that of the crystalline particles, the crystalline particles being dispersed within the non-gaseous medium, being capable of lasing and being selected from the group consisting of Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles and V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles.
- 57. An article of manufacture comprising:
- (a) an elongated core, said elongated core comprising a non-gaseous medium and a plurality of crystalline particles, said non-gaseous medium having an index of refraction that substantially matches that of the crystalline particles, the crystalline particles being dispersed within the non-gaseous medium, being capable of lasing and being selected from the group consisting of Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles and V.sup.3+ -doped crystalline particles; and
- (b) a light retaining outer structure surrounding said elongated core.
Parent Case Info
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/372,207, filed Jan. 13, 1995, now abandoned which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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372207 |
Jan 1995 |
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