Patent ID: 6067308
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A solid state electroluminescent laser comprising:an elongated, single crystalline, metal oxide body selected from the group Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 (sapphire), ZnO, MgO, LiNbO.sub.3, TiO.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, BaTiO.sub.3 and quartz that is doped with one or more rare earth elements selected from the group erbium, terbium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, dysprosium, holmium, thulium and ytterbium and with a rare earth ionizing element selected from the group oxygen and fluorine, said rare earth ionizing element atom operating to ionize said one or more rare earth elements:an elongated electron emitter spaced from and aligned with said elongated single crystalline metal oxide body;kinetic electrons emitted from said electron emitter operating to impact said one or more rare earth elements and to raise the energy of electrons of said one or more rare earth elements to an excited state above a ground state, such that upon return of said one or more rare earth elements to said ground state, radiation is emitted by said one or more rare earth elements; andmeans operable to render said emitted radiation coherent.