Miniaturized solid-state lasing device, system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9001862-B2
Application number	US-201213417097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2012
Priority date	Mar 9, 2012
Publication date	Apr 7, 2015
Grant date	Apr 7, 2015

Abstract

A solid-state lasing device includes a micro-chip oscillator (MCO) affixed to a first tube, and a volume Bragg grating (VBG) plate affixed to a second tube. The second tube is configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube with a slip fit such that the VBG plate is concentrically aligned with and is positioned at a specified distance from the MCO.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solid-state lasing device comprising:
a micro-chip oscillator (MCO) affixed to a first tube; and
a volume Bragg grating (VBG) plate affixed to a second tube, the second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube with a slip fit such that the VBG plate is concentrically aligned with and is positioned at a specified distance from the MCO;
wherein the first tube comprises a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the second tube, the recess terminating at the MCO; and
wherein at least the portion of the second tube is affixed to the VBG plate and is configured to fit within the recess such that the VBG plate is positioned within the first tube adjacent to the MCO.

2. The solid-state lasing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first tube comprises an end surface that is perpendicular to an axis of the first tube; and
the MCO is affixed to the end surface with a butt joint.

3. The solid-state lasing device of claim 2 , wherein the MCO is affixed to the end surface with a metalized layer.

4. The solid-state lasing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second tube comprises an end surface that is perpendicular to an axis of the second tube; and
the VBG plate is affixed to the end surface with a butt joint.

5. The solid-state lasing device of claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink configured to dissipate heat from the MCO, wherein the heat sink comprises at least one of a Peltier device and a passive heat spreader.

6. The solid-state lasing device of claim 1 , wherein the first tube and the second tube comprise glass.

7. The solid-state lasing device of claim 1 , further comprising a third tube affixed to a fiber optic input assembly, the third tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube with a second slip fit such that the fiber optic input assembly is concentrically aligned with the MCO.

8. The solid-state lasing device of claim 1 , further comprising a light generating device optically coupled to an optical fiber.

9. The solid-state lasing device of claim 8 , wherein the light generating device comprises a diode pump.

10. A solid-state lasing device comprising:
a micro-chip oscillator (MCO) affixed to a first tube;
a volume Bragg grating (VBG) plate affixed to a second tube, the second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube with a slip fit such that the VBG plate is concentrically aligned with and is positioned at a specified distance from the MCO;
a light generating device optically coupled to an optical fiber, the optical fiber optically coupled to the MCO; and
a spool configured to hold the optical fiber in a coil shape and dissipate heat from the light generating device.

11. A method comprising:
affixing a micro-chip oscillator (MCO) to a first tube;
affixing a volume Bragg grating (VBG) plate to a second tube; and
telescopically coupling the second tube to the first tube with a slip fit such that the VBG plate is concentrically aligned with and is positioned at a specified distance from the MCO;
wherein the first tube comprises a recess that receives at least a portion of the second tube, the recess terminating at the MCO; and
wherein at least the portion of the second tube is affixed to the VBG plate and fits within the recess such that the VBG plate is positioned within the first tube adjacent to the MCO.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein affixing the MCO to the first tube comprises affixing the MCO to an end surface of the first tube with a butt joint, the end surface perpendicular to an axis of the first tube.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the MCO is affixed to the end surface with a metalized layer.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein affixing the VBG plate to the second tube comprises affixing the VBG plate to an end surface of the second tube with a butt joint, the end surface perpendicular to an axis of the second tube.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising placing a heat sink on the first tube, the heat sink configured to dissipate heat from the MCO, wherein the heat sink comprises at least one of a Peltier device or a passive heat spreader.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first tube and the second tube comprise glass.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
affixing a third tube to a fiber optic assembly; and
telescopically coupling the third tube to the first tube with a second slip fit such that the fiber optic assembly is concentrically aligned with the MCO.

18. An optical light generating system comprising:
a solid-state lasing device comprising:
a micro-chip oscillator (MCO) affixed to a first tube; and
a volume Bragg grating (VBG) plate affixed to a second tube, the second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube with a slip fit such that the VBG plate is concentrically aligned with and is positioned at a specified distance from the MCO; and

a light generating device optically coupled to the solid-state lasing device using an optical fiber;
wherein the first tube comprises a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the second tube, the recess terminating at the MCO; and
wherein at least the portion of the second tube is affixed to the VBG plate and is configured to fit within the recess such that the VBG plate is positioned within the first tube adjacent to the MCO.

19. The optical light generating system of claim 18 , wherein the light generating device comprises a diode pump.

20. An optical light generating system comprising:
a solid-state lasing device comprising:
a micro-chip oscillator (MCO) affixed to a first tube; and
a volume Bragg grating (VBG) plate affixed to a second tube, the second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube with a slip fit such that the VBG plate is concentrically aligned with and is positioned at a specified distance from the MCO;

a light generating device optically coupled to the solid-state lasing device using an optical fiber; and
a spool configured to hold the optical fiber in a coil shape and dissipate heat from the light generating device.

Assignees

• Ushinsky Michael
• Ichkhan Joseph J
• Hendry Derek M
• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Ushinsky Michael
• Ichkhan Joseph J
• Hendry Derek M

Classifications

• H01S3/1061

  using a variable absorption device · CPC title

• H01S3/09415

  the pumping beam being parallel to the lasing mode of the pumped medium, e.g. end-pumping · CPC title

• H01S3/025

  of solid state lasers, e.g. housings or mountings · CPC title

• H01S3/061

  with elliptical or circular cross-section and elongated shape, e.g. rod · CPC title

• H01S3/113

  using intracavity saturable absorbers · CPC title