Steven Franklin Matthews

US Patent:

6967766, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

Apr 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/425578

Inventors:

Robin A. Reeder - El Segundo CA, US
Steven C. Matthews - Pacific Palisades CA, US
Alexander A. Betin - Manhattan Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01S003/00
H01S003/16

US Classification:

359333, 372 41

Abstract:

A solid-state laser beam amplifier with integrated reflective surface. A rectangular slab gain medium receives a first portion of an input laser beam along a first zigzag reflection path within the slab. The gain medium also receives a second portion of the input laser beam that has been reflected from an integral reflective surface such that the two portions traverse the gain medium along complementary zigzag paths. The zigzag paths are defined by total internal reflection of the beam portions as they propagate through the gain medium slab. A similar reflective surface may be positioned relative to the exit end of the gain medium slab, which redirects all of the output beam portions in a parallel direction. The gain medium may be Ytterbium or neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet. The gain medium may be formed as a high aspect ratio rectangular slab and may be clad with sapphire.

US Patent:

7675958, Mar 9, 2010

Filed:

Aug 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/497824

Inventors:

Robert D. Stultz - Lakewood CA, US
Steven C. Matthews - Incline Village NV, US
Billie G. Hendry - Hawthorne CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01S 3/08

US Classification:

372 92, 372 19

Abstract:

A lasing method including the steps of providing a laser resonator; utilizing birefringence compensation in said resonator whereby said resonator is induced to operate in a Laguerre-Gaussian higher order mode; and utilizing polarized outcoupling of lasing energy at said higher order mode from said resonator. In the illustrative application, the laser resonator is a high-power, solid-state laser resonator. In the specific embodiment, the inventive method further includes the step of changing an outcoupling preference for a non-degenerate high-order Laguerre-Gaussian mode. In one embodiment, the step of changing outcoupling preference includes the step of changing an outcoupling polarization. In another embodiment, the step of changing outcoupling preference includes the step of changing an orientation of a roof edge of a prism in the laser resonator. Lower order Laguerre modes are discouraged from appearing in an output of the resonator by adding loss at the center of the rod aperture of the resonator or detuning the orientation of a first or a second quarter-wave plate.

US Patent:

20040013151, Jan 22, 2004

Filed:

Jan 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/340878

Inventors:

David Sumida - Los Angeles CA, US
Hans Bruesselbach - Monte Nido CA, US
Steven Matthews - Pacific Palisades CA, US

International Classification:

H01S003/094
H01S003/042

US Classification:

372/072000, 372/036000

Abstract:

A solid state pump cavity comprising a laser rod encased by diffusion bonding inside an outer cladding. The outer cladding provides the ability to efficiently conduct heat away from the laser rod. The outer cladding is also configured to absorb spontaneous laser radiation that would otherwise be re-amplified by the laser rod. Diffusion bonding of the outer cladding to the laser rod forms a seamless optical boundary between the outer cladding and the laser rod. An alternative embodiment of the pump cavity comprises multiple segments of laser rod and outer cladding assemblies coupled together with undoped sections that are diffusion bonded to the ends of the laser rod and outer cladding assemblies.

US Patent:

20070257585, Nov 8, 2007

Filed:

May 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/382211

Inventors:

Sean Kenny - Morgan Hill CA, US
David Wershiner - Aromas CA, US
Steven Matthews - Los Banos CA, US

International Classification:

A47G 29/00

US Classification:

312265400

Abstract:

A frame for making outdoor kitchens or other frame structures. The frame includes an elongate rail section and an elongate joint section. The rails sections have inner bridges that are proximate to the ends of the rail sections. These inner bridges nest within outer bridges on the elongate joint sections. A central fastener may join the two bridges, more securely lining joint sections and the rail sections.

US Patent:

52280519, Jul 13, 1993

Filed:

Dec 16, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/808147

Inventors:

Steven C. Matthews - Pacific Palisades CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H01S 308
H01S 310

US Classification:

372107

Abstract:

Lenses (30', 32') are orthogonally tilted with respect to one another in a telescope to provide imaging for an amplifier-phase conjugate mirror (PCM)(10) in a laser oscillator/amplifier (12). This mutually orthogonal tilting avoids the problem of air breakdown which occurs when the laser energy is otherwise focused at a single point and thus avoids the need to use a vacuum cell to suppress the sparking at the telescope's focus. An adjustment of the tilting of one lens (32') with respect to the other lens (30') also avoids astigmatism.

US Patent:

53633911, Nov 8, 1994

Filed:

Apr 24, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/874270

Inventors:

Steven C. Matthews - Pacific Palisades CA
James S. Sorce - Torrance CA
Mario P. Palombo - Manhattan Beach CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H01S 3045

US Classification:

372 36

Abstract:

A technique for passively removing heat from an optical element in a laser system through its optically transmissive faces. Heat is removed by way of optically transmissive heat sinks or other heat conducting media disposed adjacent the optically transmissive surfaces of the optical element. Heat is transferred out of the optical element in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of energy, thus minimizing problems associated with thermal gradients. Devices employing optical elements such as nonlinear frequency conversion crystals and laser crystals may utilize the heat management approach of the present invention to achieve better performance. Heat is transferred to the heat conducting media by direct contact, or through narrow gas-filled gaps disposed between the optical element and the heat conducting media.