JPH0563268A - Solid-state laser device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Structure] A solid-state laser device in which a wavelength conversion material 2 that absorbs ultraviolet light and emits visible light that contributes to laser oscillation is interposed between a laser rod 3 and an excitation lamp 1. [Effect] A wavelength conversion material is used to absorb harmful ultraviolet light into the laser rod and convert it into visible light that contributes to laser oscillation, thus extending the life of the laser rod and improving excitation efficiency with the same lamp. be able to. Further, like a laser using a liquid dye as a wavelength conversion material, excellent performance can be maintained without frequently exchanging the dye in order to maintain its performance. Therefore, the maintenance and use of the laser can be simplified and the running cost is low. Also, because the excitation efficiency is improved,
With the same output, smaller size and lower cost than conventional lasers can be realized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid-state laser device. More specifically, the present invention is a laser device that is indispensable for advanced optical application technology in electric / electronic systems, communication / information processing systems, and other various industrial fields, and has excellent excitation efficiency, high performance, The present invention also relates to a new solid-state laser device having a long life.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The rapid development of optical technology represented by optoelectronics is strongly demanding the sophistication of laser technology. In particular, there is a demand for higher performance of solid-state lasers as laser light sources. Is increasing. FIG. 8 exemplifies a device configuration for oscillation of such a solid-state laser, and FIG. 9 exemplifies a configuration of a laser rod housing portion for laser oscillation.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the laser rod housing portion, the laser rod is placed on the central axis,
Two opposing mirrors that form a resonator are arranged on this axis. One of the mirrors is a total reflection mirror, and the other is a semi-transmission output mirror that emits a laser. As shown in FIG. 9, the laser rod is irradiated with a pumping light source, that is, a flash lamp for excitation to inject energy. At this time, in order to allow the rod to efficiently absorb the energy of the excitation lamp, a reflecting mirror for collecting light is provided surrounding the rod and the lamp. With solid-state lasers, a few percent of the energy injected into the excitation lamp is converted into laser light.

As for the reflecting mirror for collecting light, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c), for example, an elliptic cylinder (a), a double elliptic cylinder (b), or a spheroid. (C) etc. Conventionally, in the laser device having such a device configuration, there is a problem that the ultraviolet light generated from the excitation lamp damages the laser rod.
Therefore, some measures have been taken so far in order to improve the excitation efficiency, improve the performance, and extend the life while reducing such damage. For example, an example in which a dye dissolved in an organic solvent such as alcohol is circulated around a laser rod to absorb ultraviolet light emitted from an excitation lamp to improve laser excitation efficiency (FIG. 11),
Further, there is an example in which a glass that absorbs ultraviolet light is inserted between the excitation lamp and the rod, and further, an example in which cerium (Ce) or the like is added to the quartz tube of the excitation lamp to absorb the ultraviolet light (FIG. 12). Also known.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned device or, the purpose is only to absorb the ultraviolet light generated from the excitation lamp, and no measures have been taken to contribute to laser oscillation. Further, in the example of using the dye dissolved in a liquid, it is necessary to replace the dye frequently in order to maintain its performance, which not only takes time but also causes the dye to adhere to the periphery of the device and become dirty. There was a flaw.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional apparatus as described above, removes the ultraviolet light from the excitation lamp harmful to the laser rod, and adopts a new means that can contribute to laser oscillation. , Improvement of excitation efficiency,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new solid-state laser device capable of achieving high performance and long life.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a wavelength conversion material that absorbs ultraviolet light and emits visible light that contributes to laser oscillation between a laser rod and an excitation lamp. A solid-state laser device characterized by being interposed between That is, in the present invention, the wavelength conversion material that removes the damage of the laser rod due to the ultraviolet light and that emits the visible light that contributes to the laser oscillation is interposed between the laser rod and the excitation lamp, and the laser oscillation Therefore, it is possible to improve the excitation efficiency.

Various kinds of materials can be used as the wavelength converting material for this apparatus, for example, quartz to which a substance such as divalent copper or cerium which absorbs ultraviolet light and emits visible light contributing to laser oscillation is added. It is possible to use a tubular body or a plate-like body made of. And this wavelength conversion material,
It may be provided around the laser rod or around the excitation lamp, or may be provided independently between the two.

The solid-state laser device of the present invention having such a new structure utilizes the phenomenon that the emission wavelength shifts to a longer wavelength than the absorption wavelength (FIG. 13), and is harmful to the laser rod. Absorbs ultraviolet light,
It is based on the finding that the excitation efficiency of the laser can be improved by disposing a substance that emits visible light that contributes to laser oscillation between the laser rod and the excitation lamp. Further, by arranging such a substance emitting visible light as a solid material, the disadvantages of the conventional laser apparatus that uses a liquid dye as a wavelength conversion material, such as troubles and maintenance, and further reduction of output due to deterioration of the dye The present invention has been completed based on the finding that the problems such as the above can be solved.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The solid-state laser device of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a wavelength conversion material (2) is arranged in a tubular shape around a flash lamp (1) as an excitation lamp. In this wavelength conversion material (2),
Quartz doped with divalent copper is used.

With this structure, the ultraviolet light of the light emitted from the flash lamp (1) is absorbed by the wavelength conversion material (2), and visible light is emitted. As a result, the oscillation of the laser rod (3), for example, the Nd: YAG laser rod is made more efficient. 3 and 4, the tubular wavelength conversion material (2) is arranged around the laser rod (3).
Further, FIG. 5 shows an example in which a plate-shaped wavelength conversion material (4) different from the above tubular one is arranged between the flash lamp (1) and the laser rod (3).

For example, such a wavelength conversion material (2)
By using (4), the oscillation efficiency of the laser rod is greatly improved, and its performance and life are extended. Figure 6
Shows the result of improvement of the excitation efficiency for laser oscillation by the device of the present invention in comparison with the conventional solid-state laser device. As is clear from FIG. 6, even with the same excitation lamp (of the same wavelength),
It can be seen that the device of the present invention increases the laser output and improves the excitation efficiency.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, even if the dye conversion (a) is not frequently performed as in the case of the wavelength conversion laser (A) using the liquid dye, the output performance of the present invention is long-term. Can be maintained. Therefore, the maintenance and use of the laser device are simplified and the running cost is reduced. Furthermore, compared to conventional devices,
In the case of laser devices having the same output, the present invention enables further downsizing and cost reduction.

[0014]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the ultraviolet light harmful to the laser rod is absorbed and converted into visible light that contributes to laser oscillation, so that the life of the laser rod is extended and excitation is performed by the same lamp. The efficiency can be improved. Further, unlike a laser using a liquid dye as a wavelength conversion material, excellent performance can be maintained even if the dye is not frequently converted to maintain its performance. Therefore, the maintenance and use of the laser can be simplified and the running cost is low. Further, since the pumping efficiency is improved, it is possible to realize smaller size and lower cost than the conventional laser with the same output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the example of FIG. 1 as a device configuration.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the example of FIG. 3 as an apparatus configuration.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an input / output correlation diagram showing high efficiency oscillation of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an output-time correlation diagram showing the high output maintaining property of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a laser rod housing portion of a conventional device example.

10 (a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing examples of a condensing reflecting mirror of a conventional device, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional ultraviolet light absorber.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing another conventional ultraviolet light absorber.

FIG. 13 is an absorption and emission characteristic diagram showing the characteristics of wavelength conversion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Flash lamp 2 Wavelength conversion material 3 Laser rod 4 Wavelength conversion material

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state laser device characterized in that a wavelength conversion material that absorbs ultraviolet light and emits visible light that contributes to laser oscillation is interposed between a laser rod and an excitation lamp. 2. The solid-state laser device according to claim 1, wherein a tubular or plate-shaped wavelength conversion material is interposed.