Patent ID: 6249537
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A self-seeding, coupled cavity light amplification device comprising:a) the following elements placed sequentially to provide a first resonant beam path: an end mirror, a gain medium, a grating having a groove spacing, and an output mirror; wherein said first resonant beam path has an angle of incidence upon said grating, and wherein light traveling along said first resonant beam path is zeroth-order diffracted by said grating;b) a tuning mirror facing said grating, for reflecting light diffracted away from said first resonant beam path by said grating, said tuning mirror providing a Littman cavity comprising said end mirror, said gain medium, said grating, and said tuning mirror;wherein said groove spacing and said angle of incidence are selected to provide an adjacent mode walk-off time of said Littman cavity that is less than a mode build-up time of said Littman cavity.