Circular optical cavity electronically switched between at least two distinct cavity modes

摘要

A laser cavity structure is disclosed which pertains to laser resonator geometries possessing circular symmetry, such as in the case of disk or spherical lasers. The disclosed invention utilizes a very-high finesse Bragg reflector (VHF-BR) thin film reflectors of many layer pairs of very small refractive index difference, the VHF-BR deposited on a surface of revolution, thereby forming an optical cavity. These dielectric reflectors are disposed in such a way as to allow selection of preferred low order modes and suppression of parasitic modes while allowing a high cavity Q factor for preferred modes. The invention disclosed, in its preferred embodiments, is seen as particularly useful in applications requiring high efficiency in the production and coupling of coherent radiation. This is accomplished in a cavity design that is relatively compact and economical.

主权项

1. A light amplification structure providing a preferred optical mode, comprising:
a.) an optical cavity structure for providing preferred optical modes, the optical cavity structure comprising an annular reflector; b.) a gain region positioned within the cavity structure, the gain region positioned to provide optical energy to the optical mode; and, c.) pump sources positioned to pump the gain region, the pump sources positioned in a pattern selected for providing energy to the preferred optical modes, the preferred optical mode provided in accordance with a cycled characteristic of power provided to the pump sources, such that a first preferred optical mode is provided by means of a first cycled characteristic of the power, such that a second preferred optical mode is provided by means of a second cycled characteristic of the power, the first mode and the second mode characterized by a direction of propagation in the first mode spatially displaced from a direction of propagation in the second mode, the direction of propagation spatially displaced by means of a frequency difference between the first cycled characteristic and the second cycled characteristic; d.) out-coupling means disposed to couple radiation out of the gain region, wherein a level of out-coupled radiation is effectively switched by switching between the first mode and the second mode.