Patent ID: 7742509
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A single longitudinal-mode laser, comprising: a first mirror; a second mirror, wherein the first mirror and the second mirror define a laser cavity therein, wherein the first mirror is configured to allow a pump light at a pumping wavelength to enter the laser cavity, wherein there is no linear polarizer positioned within the laser cavity; a birefringent gain medium configured to generate a lasing light at a lasing wavelength along a light propagation direction in response to the pump light, wherein the birefringent gain medium has an optical axis substantially perpendicular to the light propagation direction, wherein the second mirror is configured to output at least a portion of the lasing light out of the laser cavity to form an output laser; a first wave plate positioned between the first mirror and the birefringent gain medium, wherein the first wave plate is a quarter wave plate at the lasing wavelength and a whole wave plate at the pumping wavelength; and a second wave plate positioned between the birefringent gain medium and the second mirror, wherein the first wave plat and the second wave plate in part produce a single longitudinal mode in the lasing light.