Thermally controlled lenses for lasers,申请号US19940195361-传众专利搜索

Thermally controlled lenses for lasers

申请公布号：US5386427(A)

申请号：US19940195361

申请日期：1994.02.10

申请公布日期：1995.01.31

申请人：

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

发明人：ZAYHOWSKI, JOHN J.

分类号：G02B7/02;H01S3/04;H01S3/08;(IPC1-7):H01S3/04

主分类号：G02B7/02

摘要：An apparatus and method for controlling the propagation path of a light beam are disclosed. A lens material having a temperature-dependent index of refraction is positioned in the path of the light beam. A heat source is disposed on one face of the lens material and a heat sink is disposed on the opposite face. A controller regulates the distribution of heat to the heat source and the extraction of heat from the heat sink so that a temperature gradient is formed within the lens material. The temperature gradient creates a refractive-index gradient in the lens material, causing a thermal lensing effect. The device may be used in a laser cavity for controlling laser-beam divergence caused by pump-induced thermal lensing in the gain medium.