Acousto-Optic Modulator High Repetition Rate Pulse Laser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser devices face challenges in generating high power and high repetition rate pulsed laser lights, which are essential for applications like material processing, micro-machining, and medical technology, due to limitations in power transmission and cost efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A high repetition rate pulse laser apparatus with a linear cavity configuration, incorporating a first optical component, a gain and Raman medium, an acousto-optic crystal, and lithium triborate (LBO) crystals, where the acousto-optic crystal is controlled by a radio frequency signal to manage light transmission and accumulation, allowing for efficient generation of pulsed laser lights with high power and repetition rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional laser devices are used to generate pulsed laser lights, then the basic laser function is achieved, but the pulse repetition rate and power efficiency are insufficient for high-demand applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the laser cavity into distinct functional regions: a gain medium section for continuous energy storage and an acousto-optic modulator section for pulsed output control. This segmentation allows the gain medium to continuously pump energy while the AOM selectively releases pulses at high repetition rates, resolving the contradiction between productivity and power efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The acousto-optic modulator is driven by periodic radio frequency signals to create regular pulse trains at high repetition rates. This periodic switching mechanism enables the system to extract multiple low-energy pulses from the continuously pumped gain medium, achieving high productivity without requiring proportionally high input power for each pulse.
2Productivity
If high power is used to achieve high repetition rate pulses, then the pulse repetition rate is improved, but power loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gain medium continuously accumulates energy in advance before the pulse extraction moment. This preliminary energy storage in the form of population inversion allows the system to release multiple pulses without requiring high instantaneous power input, thereby reducing power loss while maintaining high repetition rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The acousto-optic modulator acts as an intermediary that efficiently couples the continuously pumped gain medium to the pulsed output requirement. It converts continuous energy flow into discrete pulses with minimal loss by using acoustic waves to create periodic refractive index changes, enabling high repetition rate operation without proportional power loss.
3Power
If the acousto-optic crystal turn-on time is extended to allow light accumulation, then the laser power is improved, but the pulse width increases which may not be suitable for all applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the acousto-optic modulator's switching characteristics to optimize the balance between power accumulation and pulse width. By controlling the RF drive signal parameters, the AOM can be tuned to achieve the desired pulse characteristics, allowing the gain medium to accumulate sufficient energy while maintaining appropriate pulse durations for various applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively generates pulsed laser lights with high power and repetition rates, reducing power loss and costs, and producing multiple wavelengths including visible and ultraviolet lights, suitable for medical and industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
the gain and Raman medium receives the pumping light Lpump from the first optical element 130, and generates a first infrared base laser light Lbase1 having a first wavelength
Implementation Method 2
the gain and Raman medium 120 includes neodymium doped vanadate (for example, Nd: YVO4), which not only can absorb the energy of the pumping light Lpump via the doped material and convert it to a first infrared base laser light Lbase1
Implementation Method 3
the acousto-optic crystal receives a radio frequency control signal from a radio frequency controller, wherein the radio frequency control signal has a signal period including a low level period and a high level period, and the acousto-optic crystal undergoes a corresponding turn-on time to allow any light to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 4
The first lithium triborate (LBO) crystal receives the first and the second infrared base lasers, and generates a visible laser light having a third wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A high repetition rate pulse laser including a linear cavity having a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction is disclosed. The pulse laser includes, along the first direction, a first optical component, a gain and Raman medium, an acousto-optic crystal, a first lithium triborate (LBO) crystal and a second optical component. The first optical component allows a pumping light incident in the first direction to transmit therethrough. The gain and Raman medium receives the pumping light from the first optical component, and generates a first infrared base laser light having a first wavelength and a second infrared base laser light having a second wavelength. The acousto-optic crystal receives a radio frequency control signal from a radio frequency controller, wherein the radio frequency control signal has a signal period including a low level period and a high level period.