Patent ID: 7643523
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A thermally self-correcting optical resonator system comprising: a first mirror having a first reflecting surface with a first reflectivity at a desired wavelength; a second mirror having a first reflecting surface with a second reflectivity at said desired wavelength, said second reflectivity being different from said first reflectivity, said first reflecting surface of said second mirror configured and arranged to reflect light along an optical axis to said first reflecting surface of said first mirror, wherein said first and second mirrors are operable as a resonator; a first heat conductor disposed on said optical axis, said first heat conductor being substantially transparent to one or more desired wavelengths of light, said first heat conductor having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, a first coefficient of thermal conductivity, and first and second optical surfaces; and a first gain medium operable to produce light at one or more desired wavelengths and having first and second optical surfaces, said first gain medium disposed adjacent to said first heat conductor on said optical axis, said first gain medium having a second coefficient of thermal expansion greater than said first coefficient of thermal expansion, said first gain medium having a second coefficient of thermal conductivity lesser than said first coefficient or thermal conductivity, wherein said first gain medium is operable to receive pump energy from a means for pumping, wherein said first optical surface of said first gain medium has a predetermined shape at a first optical output condition corresponding to no pump energy, wherein said first optical surface of said first gain medium is substantially dissimilar to said first optical surface of said first heat conductor at said first optical output condition, and wherein said first optical surface of said first gain medium substantially conforms to and contacts said first optical surface of said first heat conductor at a second optical output condition, wherein heat conduction can occur from said first gain medium to said first heat conductor through an interface formed by said first optical surface of said first heat conductor and said first optical surface of said first gain medium at said second optical output condition; wherein said first optical surface of said first gain medium is concave toward said first optical surface of said first heat conductor at said first optical output condition.