Patent ID: 8031749
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A passively Q-switched microlaser comprising: a) a monolithic resonant cavity formed between a first mirror and a second mirror between which, in operation, an optical path where lasing occurs is defined; b) a gain medium disposed in the optical path within the monolithic resonant cavity for producing optical gain; c) a saturable absorber medium disposed in the optical path within the monolithic resonant cavity, optically coupled and in physical contact with the gain medium, wherein the physical contact traverses the optical path; and d) an input port at the first mirror for receiving pump light having a pump wavelength, for energizing said gain medium so as to produce a laser beam at a lasing wavelength, wherein in operation, the beam oscillates along the optical path between the first and second mirrors; e) reciprocating means for linearly displacing the input port with respect to the monolithic resonant cavity in a transverse direction perpendicular to the optical path, so as to cause a corresponding transverse displacement of the laser beam with respect to the monolithic resonant cavity; wherein at least one of the gain medium or the saturable absorber medium is wedge-shaped or includes discrete steps, whereby the transverse displacement of the input port relative to the monolithic resonant cavity by the reciprocating means causes a variation of: wherein an optical path length of the laser beam between the first and the second minors substantially does not change upon the transverse displacement of the laser beam across the wedge-shaped gain medium or the wedge-shaped saturable absorber medium, or across a single step of the stepped gain medium or the stepped saturable absorber medium.