Outcoupler with bragg grating and system and method using same

Abstract

An outcoupler having a wavelength selective, angle sensitive element or Bragg grating and an arrangement for maintaining the element in a predetermined orientation relative to an incident beam of electromagnetic energy. The Bragg grating may be reflective or transmissive. The inventive outcoupler may be used to implement a phase conjugate master oscillator power amplifier with an oscillator; a resonator in operational alignment with the oscillator; and an outcoupler in alignment with the oscillator. In the best mode, second and third Bragg gratings are included within the oscillator and the resonator, respectively.

1 . An outcoupler comprising: 
 a wavelength selective, angle sensitive element and    means for maintaining said element in a predetermined orientation relative to an incident beam of electromagnetic energy.    
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said element is reflective.  
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said element is transmissive.  
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said element is a Bragg grating.  
   
   
       5 . A power amplifier comprising: an oscillator; 
 a resonator in operational alignment with said oscillator; and    an outcoupler in alignment with said oscillator, said outcoupler including a Bragg grating.    
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 5  wherein said oscillator includes a Bragg grating.  
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein said oscillator includes an amplifier.  
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 5  wherein said resonator includes a Bragg grating.  
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 5  further including a power amplifier.  
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 5  wherein said resonator is a phase conjugate mirror.  
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 10  wherein said phase conjugate mirror is a loop phase conjugate mirror.  
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a Faraday diode in alignment with said oscillator.  
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 12  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror further includes a second Bragg grating in alignment with said diode.  
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 13  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a nonlinear medium operationally disposed between said diode and said oscillator.  
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 14  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes an amplifier operationally disposed between said medium and said second Bragg grating.  
   
   
       16 . A power amplifier comprising: 
 a master oscillator having a first Bragg grating disposed therein;    a resonator in operational alignment with said oscillator, said resonator having a second Bragg grating; and    an outcoupler in alignment with said oscillator, said outcoupler having a third Bragg grating.    
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein said resonator is a phase conjugate mirror.  
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein said phase conjugate mirror is a loop phase conjugate mirror.  
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 18  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a Faraday diode in alignment with said oscillator.  
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 19  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes a nonlinear medium operationally disposed between said diode and said oscillator.  
   
   
       21 . The invention of  claim 20  wherein said loop phase conjugate mirror includes an amplifier operationally disposed between said medium and said third Bragg grating.  
   
   
       22 . An outcoupling method including the steps of: 
 providing a wavelength selective, angle sensitive element and    maintaining said element in a predetermined orientation relative to an incident beam of electromagnetic energy.