Controllable multi-wavelength laser source

摘要

In at least one embodiment a laser system includes a fiber laser source, a polarization controller and a wavelength converter. The relative power distribution between a pump wavelength and a signal wavelength is controllable using the polarization controller. An optional phase compensator is used to control polarization state of the output laser beam. In various embodiments the relative power distribution among multiple wavelengths may be controlled over a range of at least about 100:1.

主权项

1. A laser system, comprising:
a laser source which generates an input beam having a first wavelength; a polarization controller to control a polarization of the input beam, said polarization controller comprising a phase retarder comprising a wave plate; and a wavelength converter which receives the input beam from the polarization controller at a first wavelength and generates a wavelength converted beam in which at least a portion of beam power at the first wavelength is converted into beam power at a second wavelength, wherein the wavelength converter comprises a birefringent nonlinear crystal, wherein the wavelength conversion efficiency is determined by phase matching, said phase matching comprising quasi-phase matching, non-critical phase matching, or critical phase matching, wherein the polarization controller is arranged in such a way that the relative power at each of the first and second wavelengths is controllable, and the laser system output comprises signal power at both the first and second wavelengths, and wherein a wavelength dependent signal power at the output of the wavelength converter can be varied from full available power output to near extinction.