Patent ID: 6208679
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A high-power external cavity laser source comprising:a) a free space external cavity comprising:i) a semiconductor laser array with at least two multimode optical gain elements, the at least two multimode optical gain elements each generating multimode optical radiation having one of at least a first and a second wavelength and one of at least a first and a second free space optical path, respectively;ii) an optical element having a focal plane, the optical element positioned to substantially place the focal plane at the at least two optical gain elements and to intercept the at least two respective free space optical paths;iii) a movable dispersive element positioned in the at least two optical paths, said movable dispersive gain element being movable to tune said external cavity laser; andiv) a partially reflecting element positioned in the at least two optical paths, the partially reflecting element and the gain elements together forming said free space laser cavity that produces the at least first and second wavelengths,the partially reflecting clement further transmitting an overlapping beam comprising radiation having the at least first and second wavelengths.