Patent ID: 6384966
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A multiple pass optical amplifier for an incident light beam, comprising:an optical gain material; first means for reflecting a light beam which has passed through said gain material back into said gain material; first means for separating a light beam which has passed twice through said gain material from said incident light beam; second means for reflecting a light beam which has passed twice through said gain material back into said gain material; second means for separating a light beam which has passed four times through said gain material from said incident light beam; whereby all components of the amplifier are designed and mutually arranged in such a way that upon passing said gain material for a second time, the path of the light beam is non-reciprocal but symmetrical about a center plane of said gain material, the normal of which is parallel to the optical axis, with respect to the path of a light beam passing through said gain material for a first time, and upon passing said gain material for a fourth time, the path of the light beam is non-reciprocal but symmetrical about a center plane of said gain material, the normal of which is parallel to the optical axis, with respect to the path of a light beam passing through said gain material for a third time.