公开(公告)号：US3613024A

公开(公告)日：1971-10-12

申请号：US3613024D

申请日：1969-03-07

Applicant: BELL TELEPHONE LABOR INC

Inventor： GEUSIC JOSEPH E ,  KARR MICHAEL A

IPC: H01S3/117 ,  H01S3/11

CPC classification number: H01S3/117

Abstract: Q-switching of a laser is accomplished by controlling the state of an intracavity acousto-optic switch that comprises a piezoelectric transducer bonded to a low-optical-loss ultrasonic propagation medium. Energization of the transducer causes a traveling acoustic diffraction grating to propagate through the medium. Illustratively, the direction of propagation of the grating is perpendicular to the direction in which light travels in the laser. The interaction between the light and the acoustic grating gives rise to diffraction losses that prevent the laser from oscillating. In response to a momentary deenergization of the transducer, the laser cavity is restored to a high-Q oscillatory condition during which energy stored in the system during the nonoscillatory state is suddenly released. During each such deenergization period, a high-amplitude output pulse of coherent radiation is obtained.