Patent ID: 7590156
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A compact, high intensity megahertz (MHz) mode-locked laser, the laser consisting of: a laser source for producing a light beam coupled to a resonator cavity having a gain medium, the gain medium selected from the group consisting of Yb:KYW, a KY[WO a saturable absorber mirror in the resonator cavity for self-starting and stable mode-locking operation; a multipass mirror system having only a first mirror and second mirror, each of the first and second mirror having only one hole, in combination with the saturable absorber mirror in the resonator cavity for lowering repetition rate of the laser system to below approximately 50 megahertz (MHz), the first mirror and the second mirror aligned to allow the light beam to enter through the one hole in the first mirror to reflect plural times within the multipass mirror system and exit through the one hole in the second mirror; dispersion compensating element in the resonator cavity for dispersion compensation; and an output coupler to the laser for releasing pulses with intensities in a range between approximately 1 MegaHertz (MHz) and approximately 50 MegaHertz (MHz), and having an energy of between approximately 10 nano Joules (nJ) and approximately 150 nano Joules (nJ) for micro-machining and micro-structuring applications, the light beam resonating inside the resonator cavity formed by the output coupler and the saturable absorber mirror.