About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Applied Optics
Paper
Bidirectional electrically switched laser
Abstract
Operation of a double-rooftop ruby laser emitting along directions that are at an angle of 17.45° with respect to one another has been investigated. The ruby is a 17-cm cylinder with a 17.45° chisel at each end one of which is silver-coated. The other end has an antireflection coating so that external dielectric (or silver) reflectors complete two separate Fabry-Perot cavitieswhich have about one-third the active medium in common. A polarizer and nitrobenzene Kerr cell in each path allow fast switching from one axis of emission to the other; the switching has been accomplished within 1 µsec in the present experiment. Some implications of the experiment with regard to more general problems of laser deflection are also discussed. © 1965 Optical Society of America.