IP Library Granted Patent US 8,929,408
Granted Patent B1
US 8,929,408 · App. 13/747,316 · Granted Jan 6, 2015

Multi comb generation with a mode locked laser cavity

Inventors: Jean-Claude Diels (Albuquerque, NM); Ladan Arissian (Albuquerque, NM); Koji Masuda (Albuquerque, NM)
Assignee: STC.UNM
H01S3/1062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,929,408
App. No.
13/747,316
Granted
Jan 6, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods of generating multi combs can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, an etalon can be disposed in the laser cavity of a mode-locked laser to adjust frequency combs. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Claims (27)

1. A system comprising:

a laser cavity structured to operate as a mode-locked laser cavity; and

a Fabry-Perot etalon disposed in the laser cavity, wherein length of the laser cavity and thickness of the Fabry-Perot etalon are arranged such that, at each round trip of a signal in the laser cavity, a bunch of pulses is formed by interferences, providing multiple combs.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a driver to set a tilt angle of the Fabry-Perot etalon, the tilt angle being referenced to a propagation axis of the laser cavity.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the system includes a control unit coupled to the driver, the control unit operable to tilt the Fabry-Perot etalon such that a laser repetition rate of a laser formed by the laser cavity and the Fabry-Perot etalon can be tuned.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a gain control to adjust laser gain such that a repetition rate of a laser corresponding to the laser cavity with the Fabry-Perot etalon can be tuned.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the gain control is operable to increase the repetition rate of the laser cavity having the Fabry-Perot etalon disposed therein by orders of magnitude compared to the laser cavity without having the Fabry-Perot etalon disposed therein.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the gain control includes an electro-optic attenuator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is structured to provide tuning of a repetition rate of a laser corresponding to the laser cavity without the Fabry-Perot etalon based on a laser cavity length of the laser cavity.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the system includes a drive control to adjust one or more ends of the laser cavity.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes the Fabry-Perot interferences structured to generate a specific number of pulses in a high frequency burst from the laser cavity.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein system includes one or more additional Fabry-Perot etalons disposed in the laser cavity.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a drive control to adjust the thickness of the Fabry-Perot etalon.

12. A method comprising:

generating multiple frequency combs from a mode-locked laser, the mode-locked laser having a laser cavity in which a Fabry-Perot etalon is disposed such that length of the laser cavity and thickness of the Fabry-Perot etalon are arranged such that, at each routine round trip of a signal in the laser cavity, a bunch of pulses is formed by interferences, providing the multiple frequency combs.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the laser cavity has a length of a meter.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes tilting the Fabry-Perot etalon to tune the carrier frequency of the mode-locked laser.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein generating multiple frequency combs includes generating two frequency combs such that a high frequency comb relative to the other frequency comb is generated in a spectroscopic application.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes adjusting the Fabry-Perot etalon to provide intracavity pulse shaping.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes adjusting the thickness of the Fabry-Perot etalon in generating two frequency combs, providing tuning of a high frequency comb, relative to the other frequency comb, of the mode-locked laser.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes tilting the Fabry-Perot etalon, providing a tuning of a laser repetition rate of the mode-locked laser.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes adjusting laser gain such that a repetition rate associated with the mode-locked laser without the Fabry-Perot is tuned.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein adjusting laser gain includes controlling pump power to a pump laser.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein adjusting laser gain includes using an electro-optic attenuator.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes adjusting a laser cavity length of the laser cavity to tune a repetition rate associated with the mode-locked laser.

23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes adjusting the thickness of the Fabry-Perot etalon to tune a repetition rate associated with the mode-locked laser.

24. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes adjusting laser gain such that a repetition rate associated with the mode-locked laser is tuned over a larger range by including the Fabry-Perot.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 27, 2015
From: UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 035506/0647 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2013
From: DIELS, JEAN-CLAUDE; ARISSIAN, LADAN; MASUDA, KOJI
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
Reel/Frame 030250/0138 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2013
From: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
To: STC.UNM
Reel/Frame 030250/0189 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 61589747 · Jan 23, 2012