Method and device for coherence reduction
A laser device may include at least two mirrors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting laser radiation. The laser device may further include a diffuser, which may equalize a coherence length and/divergence during a period of time.
1 . A laser device comprising:
at least two mirrors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting radiation and a region for performing stimulated emission; and
a diffuser within the resonant cavity for equalizing a divergence of the radiation during a period of time.
2 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser provides a phase modulation of the radiation.
3 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is integrated with at least one of the mirrors forming the resonant cavity.
4 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mirrors is curved.
5 . The laser device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one curved mirror is spherical.
6 . The laser device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one curved mirror is aspherical.
7 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mirrors includes a reflective coating.
8 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein the reflective coating is a multilayer reflective coating.
9 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein a coherence property of the radiation is modified by the diffuser in at least one direction.
10 . The laser device of claim 1 , wherein a coherence property of the radiation is modified by the diffuser in at least two directions.
11 . A laser device comprising:
at least two mirrors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting radiation and a region for performing stimulated emission, wherein at least one of the mirrors is adapted to equalize a divergence of the radiation during a period of time.
12 . The laser of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the mirrors is aspherical.
13 . A laser comprising:
at least two mirrors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting laser radiation and a region for performing stimulated emission, wherein at least one of the mirrors is substantially flat in a region in the vicinity of an optical axis of the laser and a peripheral part of the at least one mirror is adapted to equalize a divergence of the radiation during a period of time.
14 . The laser of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the mirrors is spherical.
15 . The laser of claim 13 , wherein a diffuser is provided in the substantially flat region of the at least one of the mirrors for creating a laser with increased divergence.
16 . The laser of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is at least one of a separate semi-transparent plate arranged within the resonating cavity and having a surface profile providing for phase modulation of the radiation.
17 . A method for creating a laser beam, the method comprising:
irradiating radiation into a region, within a resonant cavity including at least two mirrors, for performing stimulated emission; and
modifying the a coherence property of the radiation using a diffuser within the resonant cavity.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the radiation is phase modulated by the diffuser.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the diffuser is integrated with at least one of the mirrors forming the resonant cavity.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one mirror includes a reflective coating.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the reflective coating is a multilayer reflective coating.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coherence property of the radiation is modified by the diffuser in one direction.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coherence property of the radiation is modified by the diffuser in two directions.
24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the mirrors is curved.
25 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the mirrors is at least one of substantially flat in a region in the vicinity of an optical axis of the laser and sphere shaped.
26 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the diffuser is provided in a substantially flat region of at least one of the mirrors for creating a laser with increased divergence.
27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the curved mirror is spherical.
28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the curved mirror is aspherical.
29 . A laser arrangement comprising:
at least two mirrors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting radiation and a region for performing stimulated emission, wherein at least one of the mirrors is adapted to equalize a divergence of laser radiation during a period of time;
at least two electrodes forming a discharge volume; and
a housing enclosing the discharge volume and the resonant cavity.
30 . A laser device for performing the method of claim 17 .
31 . A laser arrangement including the laser device of claim 1 .
32 . A laser arrangement including the laser device of claim 11 .
33 . A laser arrangement including the laser device of claim 13 .
34 . A laser arrangement including the laser of claim 33.