Gary L Reynolds

US Patent:

6532100, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Aug 4, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/368342

Inventors:

Jouni P. Partanen - Los Angeles CA
Xingkun Wu - Painted Post NY
Gary Reynolds - Santa Clarita CA
William F. Hug - Pasadena CA

Assignee:

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

International Classification:

G02F 135

US Classification:

359326, 372 21

Abstract:

Solid state lasers that use non-linear optical crystals to generate frequency tripled or quadrupled output in the ultraviolet have low lifetimes due to damage to the face of the non-linear crystal through which the ultraviolet signal exits. To prevent this damage, the tripling or quadrupling crystal is provided within a controlled environment that is maintained substantially free from contaminants such as silicon-bearing and organic compounds. The tripling or quadrupling crystal is enclosed within a tubular chamber with windows on the ends of the tube that provide optical access to the entrance and exit faces of the tripling or quadrupling crystal. All heating elements and alignment elements for the crystal are outside of the chamber. Because the crystal is stored within the hermetically sealed chamber, contaminants are not available within the environment of the crystal that could interact with the energetic photons of the ultraviolet output of the frequency multiplied solid state laser. The windows and walls of the chamber are preferably made of materials that can be cleaned effectively, such as sapphire or quartz for the windows and stainless steel for the walls and flanges of the chamber.