Vibration-Resistant OPS Laser Resonator Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intra-cavity frequency converted OPS lasers face issues with vibration-induced mode-hopping, leading to lower conversion efficiency and noise in UV radiation generation due to environmental factors like temperature changes and vibrations, which existing length control mechanisms struggle to accommodate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vibration-resistant OPS laser design featuring a baseplate with a vibration-isolation plate supported by resilient posts, where the laser-resonator is folded with end-mirrors and fold-mirrors mounted in fixed relationships, and the OPS-chip is thermally connected to the baseplate to maintain constant optical path length despite shear vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a passive ring-resonator with active length control is used to increase green radiation intensity and conversion efficiency, then conversion efficiency is improved, but the system becomes sensitive to vibration-induced mode-hopping and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the resonator length adaptable through temperature-dependent expansion of the mounting block. The mounting block is made of a material with a positive temperature coefficient of expansion, allowing the resonator length to automatically adjust in response to temperature changes and vibration-induced mode-hopping, thereby maintaining stability without active control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the mounting block material by selecting a material with specific thermal expansion properties. This parameter change enables the mounting block to expand or contract with temperature variations, automatically compensating for mode-hopping and maintaining resonator length stability
2Measurement precision
If the resonator length is actively controlled to maintain resonant condition, then wavelength stability is improved, but the response time is insufficient to accommodate rapid mode-hopping caused by vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the active mechanical length-control mechanism with a passive thermal-mechanical compensation system. The mounting block's thermal expansion properties provide automatic length adjustment without requiring motors, sensors, or control electronics, thereby achieving instantaneous response to temperature and vibration changes
3Reliability
If fold-mirrors are mounted on a vibration-isolation plate to reduce mode-hopping, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vibration isolation function into the existing mounting block structure. The mounting block simultaneously serves as the mechanical support for the fold-mirrors, the thermal compensation element, and the vibration-isolation component, eliminating the need for a separate vibration-isolation plate and reducing overall structural complexity
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 design effectively reduces mode-hopping and maintains conversion efficiency by ensuring the optical path length remains constant during vibrations, enhancing the stability and noise reduction of UV radiation generation.
Implementation Method 1
A vibration resistant optically pumped semiconductor laser includes a baseplate, and a vibration-isolation plate supported on the baseplate via a plurality of vibration isolation members
Implementation Method 2
The green, single-mode output wavelength can be converted to a wavelength in the ultraviolet (UV) region of the electromagnetic spectrum by further frequency multiplication in an optically non-linear crystal outside the OPS laser cavity
Implementation Method 3
an OPS-laser having a fundamental lasing wavelength of about 1064 nanometers (nm) can be frequency-doubled by an intra-cavity optically nonlinear crystal to provide output radiation having a wavelength of about 532 nm
Data Source
AI summary
An intra-cavity frequency doubled OPS-laser includes a laser-resonator terminated by a plane mirror and a mirror-structure of an OPS-chip. The resonator is folded by three fold-mirrors. The fold-mirrors are supported on a vibration-isolation plate supported by isolation posts above a base-plate. The plane mirror and the mirror-structure of the OPS-chip are mounted back to back on opposite parallel surfaces of a mounting block. The mounting-block is supported on the base-plate and extends through an aperture in the vibration-isolation plate. Movement of the vibration-isolation plate with respect to the base-plate does not change the resonator length.