Analog frequency modulated laser using magnetostriction
Abstract
The present invention relates to an analog frequency modulatable laser. The radiation of the lasing medium is analog frequency modulated by change of the optical path length by movement of reflective mirrors forming the resonant cavity at the frequency of radition of the laser in a manner corresponding to an information signal. In one embodiment, a magnetostrictive material is deposited on and bonded to the outer periphery of an active lasing medium having appropriate mirrors on the ends thereof. The magnetostrictive material is exposed to an information encoded magnetic field and physically expands or contracts the physical length of the lasing medium along the optical axis of the lasing medium corresponding to the modulated information of the magnetic field. In another embodiment an optical fiber is secured by cementing or clamping to a transparent end of the active lasing material and one of the optical cavity reflecting mirrors is disposed on the outside end of the optical fiber with the magnetostrictive material being disposed on the optical fiber.
- Publication:
-
Patent Application Department of the Navy
- Pub Date:
- March 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985padn.reptR....K
- Keywords:
-
- Analog Data;
- Frequency Modulation;
- Lasers;
- Magnetostriction;
- Fiber Optics;
- Frequencies;
- Magnetic Signals;
- Optical Paths;
- Optical Reflection;
- Patent Applications;
- Signal Encoding;
- Signal Reflection;
- Systems Engineering;
- Lasers and Masers