Optical Amplifier Resonator Switching to Consume Residual Excitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical amplification devices face challenges in efficiently consuming excitation energy remaining in the amplification unit after amplification, leading to thermal energy conversion and increased cooling device size and power consumption, while maintaining input and output light quality.
Innovation Solution
An optical amplification device with a resonance unit and optical switch that resonates generated light to consume excess excitation energy before it converts to thermal energy, using a pair of optical elements with different reflectances to manage light paths and prevent parasitic oscillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If excitation energy is not consumed after amplification, then the amplification unit retains energy, but the energy converts to thermal energy increasing cooling device size and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by consuming the excitation energy through resonance of generated light immediately after amplification, before the energy has a chance to convert to thermal energy. The optical switch unit enables this timing control by allowing the resonance process to occur in the time window between amplification and thermal conversion, thus preventing heat buildup proactively rather than reacting to it later.
2Loss of energy
If a beam splitter is used to consume excitation energy, then some amplified light is branched to generate branched light, but the quality of input light or output light may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the resonance function from the main amplification path by using generated light (a byproduct of amplification) to create a separate resonance process. This extracted resonance mechanism consumes excitation energy independently without interfering with the primary input-output light path, thus maintaining light quality while achieving energy consumption. The optical switch unit further isolates this extracted resonance process from affecting the main amplification quality.
3Loss of energy
If additional light sources are added to generate resonance, then excitation energy can be consumed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using the generated light from the amplification unit itself to create the resonance that consumes excitation energy. Instead of requiring external light sources, the system uses its own output (generated light) to perform the energy consumption function. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional light source components while achieving the desired excitation energy consumption through the resonance of generated light.
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
Efficiently prevents thermal energy buildup in the amplification unit without affecting input or output light quality, reducing cooling device size and power consumption, and eliminating the need for additional light sources.
Implementation Method 1
a resonance unit that includes a pair of first optical elements disposed to optically face each other with the amplification unit interposed between the first optical elements and that resonates generated light generated in the amplification unit through a supply of the excitation light
Implementation Method 2
The pair of first optical elements may be formed of a high reflectance mirror and a low reflectance mirror. In this case, the generated light can be gradually extracted from the low reflectance mirror to the outside, as laser light.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical amplification device includes: a laser medium that amplifies input light to generate output light; an excitation light source that supplies excitation light used for amplifying the input light, to the laser medium; a resonator that includes a pair of first optical elements and disposed to optically face each other with the laser medium interposed between the first optical elements and that resonates generated light generated in the laser medium through the supply of the excitation light; and an optical switch disposed on an optical path of the resonator between the pair of first optical elements.