Patent ID: 7099356
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for seeding a laser for single mode oscillation comprising the steps of: providing a laser system to be seeded for single mode output; coupling a seed laser radiation source to said laser system, wherein coupling a seed laser radiation source includes providing a continuous wave single frequency laser coupled to at least one electro-optic phase modulator; determining an axial mode spacing of a cavity of said laser system; generating a seed spectrum from said seed laser radiation source having a bandwidth corresponding to said axial mode spacing, said seed spectrum including a plurality of discrete frequencies, wherein the bandwidth of the seed spectrum is set to be about equal to the axial mode spacing of the cavity to define the spacing of the plurality of discrete frequencies, and wherein the single frequency continuous wave laser provides a laser beam at a first frequency and the electro-optic phase modulator operates at a second frequency so that the combination of the first frequency and the second frequency generates the plurality of discrete frequencies that define the bandwidth of the seed spectrum; injecting said seed spectrum into said cavity; and capturing at least one of said plurality of discrete frequencies by an axial mode of said cavity.