Patent ID: 6263006
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A solid state electroluminescent laser comprising:single crystalline metal oxide thin film 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;said thin film having a top and a bottom surface;a first electrode in physical engagement with said top surface of said thin film;a second electrode in physical engagement with said bottom surface of said thin film;a source of DC voltage connected to said first and second electrodes so as to bias said first electrode negatively relative to said second electrode;said source of DC voltage having a magnitude so as to induce a high electrical field at a physical interface that exists between said first electrode and said top surface of said thin film, such that kinetic electrons are emitted from said first electrode and impact said one or more rare earth elements and 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.