Laser Device High Output via Demultiplexed Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser devices face challenges in producing pulsed laser light with high output due to the need to limit amplification factors to prevent amplifier damage, which restricts the production of high-energy pulsed laser light.
Innovation Solution
The laser device demultiplexes a laser pulse train into continuous beams, amplifies each beam separately, and then multiplexes them with controlled phases to produce pulsed laser light, utilizing optical parametric amplification by a nonlinear crystal to achieve high output while preventing damage through controlled pumping light intensity and multiple nonlinear crystal parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If pulsed laser light is amplified directly, then the amplification factor must be limited to prevent amplifier damage, but this restricts the production of high output pulsed laser light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pulsed laser light into multiple continuous laser light beams by demultiplexing different longitudinal modes. Each continuous beam is then amplified separately by individual amplifiers without risk of damage, since continuous light does not produce the peak intensity problems of pulsed light. Finally, the amplified continuous beams are multiplexed back together to reconstruct the pulsed laser light with high output power.
2Power
If the amplification factor is increased to produce high output pulsed laser light, then the output power increases, but the amplifiers may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional amplification approach by converting pulsed laser light into continuous laser light beams before amplification. This inversion allows the use of high amplification factors without damaging the amplifiers, because continuous light lacks the peak intensity that causes damage. After amplification, the continuous beams are converted back to pulsed light, achieving high output power without amplifier damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple amplifiers are used to amplify different spectral regions, then wavelength coverage is improved, but the amplification factor for each region is still limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments both the spectral regions and the amplification process. Different spectral regions are demultiplexed into separate continuous laser light beams, each assigned to a dedicated amplifier. This segmentation allows each amplifier to operate at high amplification factors without the constraints of pulsed light amplification, while collectively covering a broad wavelength range through the combination of multiple amplifiers with different gain characteristics.
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
This approach allows for the production of pulsed laser light with higher output and improved beam quality, repetition rate, and shorter pulses, while avoiding damage to the nonlinear crystal parts by adjusting the intensity and number of crystal parts.
Implementation Method 1
this laser device employs optical parametric amplification by a nonlinear crystal
Implementation Method 2
the range of wavelength satisfying the phase-matching condition of phase parametric amplification
Data Source
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AI summary
A laser device 1 demultiplexes seed light L0 into a plurality of beams of laser light L1 and then continuously optically amplifies the plurality of beams of the laser light L1 with an amplifier 14. Therefore, its amplification factor can be set higher than that in the case of amplifying pulsed laser light. When producing multiplexed light L3 by multiplexing the beams of the amplified laser light L1 with a diffraction grating 16, respective phases of the beams of the laser light L1 are controlled such that an output peak of the multiplexed light L3 repeatedly appears at a converging position P1 at a predetermined time interval. This produces pulsed laser light at the converging position P1 from a plurality of beams of laser light L2 amplified at a high amplification factor. Hence, this laser device 1 can produce pulsed laser light with a high output.