Patents by Inventor Michael J. Messerly
Michael J. Messerly has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10033148Abstract: Rare earth doped fiber lasers can be robust and efficient sources of high quality light, but are usually limited to the highest gain transitions of the active species. But rare earths typically possess a multitude of potentially useful transitions that might be accessed if the dominant transition can be suppressed. In fiber lasers this suppression is complicated by the very high net gain the dominant transitions exhibit; effective suppression requires some mechanism distributed along the length of the fiber. We have developed a novel waveguide with resonant leakage elements that frustrate guidance at well-defined and selectable wavelengths. Based on this waveguide, we have fabricated a Large Mode Area Neodymium doped fiber with suppression of the four-level transition around 1060 nm, and demonstrated lasing on the three-level transition at 930 nm with good efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Paul H Pax, Graham S Allen, Jay W Dawson, Derrek Reginald Drachenberg, Victor V Khitrov, Michael J Messerly, Nick Schenkel
-
Publication number: 20180045544Abstract: A system for aerially surveying an area where a plane may have crashed in water and locating pings from the plane's black box using a laser on an aerial platform that produces laser pulses; using a launch telescope to direct the laser pulses to the water producing scattering from the laser pulses and a continuous stream of backscatter; using a receiving telescope to collect the continuous stream of backscatter; using an interferometer operatively connected to the receiving telescope to produce two outputs, wherein one output is the continuous stream of backscatter, and wherein the other output is a delayed replica of the first output; and using a data collection and analysis unit operatively connected to the interferometer to produce a measurement of the sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Jay W. Dawson, Graham S. Allen, Michael R. Carter, John E. Heebner, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Alexander M. Rubenchik
-
Publication number: 20170229834Abstract: Rare earth doped fiber lasers can be robust and efficient sources of high quality light, but are usually limited to the highest gain transitions of the active species. But rare earths typically possess a multitude of potentially useful transitions that might be accessed if the dominant transition can be suppressed. In fiber lasers this suppression is complicated by the very high net gain the dominant transitions exhibit; effective suppression requires some mechanism distributed along the length of the fiber. We have developed a novel waveguide with resonant leakage elements that frustrate guidance at well-defined and selectable wavelengths. Based on this waveguide, we have fabricated a Large Mode Area Neodymium doped fiber with suppression of the four-level transition around 1060 nm, and demonstrated lasing on the three-level transition at 930 nm with good efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Paul H. Pax, Graham S. Allen, Jay W. Dawson, Derrek Reginald Drachenberg, Victor V. Khitrov, Michael J. Messerly, Nick Schenkel
-
Publication number: 20170229838Abstract: An Nd3+ optical fiber laser and amplifier operating in the wavelength range from 1300 to 1450 nm is described. The fiber includes a rare earth doped optical amplifier or laser operating within this wavelength band is based upon an optical fiber that guides light in this wavelength band. The waveguide structure attenuates light in the wavelength range from 850 nm to 950 nm and from 1050 nm to 1150 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jay W. Dawson, Graham S. Allen, Derrek Reginald Drachenberg, Victor V. Khitrov, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Nick Schenkel
-
Patent number: 9450373Abstract: Cladding-pumped Raman fiber lasers and amplifiers provide high-efficiency conversion efficiency at high brightness enhancement. Differential loss is applied to both single-pass configurations appropriate for pulsed amplification and laser oscillator configurations applied to high average power cw source generation.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: John E. Heebner, Arun K. Sridharan, Jay Walter Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
-
Patent number: 9170367Abstract: Field-flattening strands may be added to and arbitrarily positioned within a field-flattening shell to create a waveguide that supports a patterned, flattened mode. Patterning does not alter the effective index or flattened nature of the mode, but does alter the characteristics of other modes. Compared to a telecom fiber, a hexagonal pattern of strands allows for a three-fold increase in the flattened mode's area without reducing the separation between its effective index and that of its bend-coupled mode. Hexagonal strand and shell elements prove to be a reasonable approximation, and, thus, to be of practical benefit vis-à-vis fabrication, to those of circular cross section. Patterned flattened modes offer a new and valuable path to power scaling.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Jay W. Dawson
-
Patent number: 9166355Abstract: A robust, compact optical pulse train source is described, with the capability of generating sub-picosecond micro-pulse sequences, which can be periodic as well as non-periodic, and at repetition rates tunable over decades of baseline frequencies, from MHz to multi-GHz regimes. The micro-pulses can be precisely controlled and formatted to be in the range of many ps in duration to as short as several fs in duration. The system output can be comprised of a continuous wave train of optical micro-pulses or can be programmed to provide gated bursts of macro-pulses, with each macro-pulse consisting of a specific number of micro-pulses or a single pulse picked from the higher frequency train at a repetition rate lower than the baseline frequency. These pulses could then be amplified in energy anywhere from the nJ to MJ range.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Christopher P. J. Barty, David J. Gibson, Matthew A. Prantil, Eric Cormier
-
Publication number: 20140300951Abstract: A robust, compact optical pulse train source is described, with the capability of generating sub-picosecond micro-pulse sequences, which can be periodic as well as non-periodic, and at repetition rates tunable over decades of baseline frequencies, from MHz to multi-GHz regimes. The micro-pulses can be precisely controlled and formatted to be in the range of many ps in duration to as short as several fs in duration. The system output can be comprised of a continuous wave train of optical micro-pulses or can be programmed to provide gated bursts of macro-pulses, with each macro-pulse consisting of a specific number of micro-pulses or a single pulse picked from the higher frequency train at a repetition rate lower than the baseline frequency. These pulses could then be amplified in energy anywhere from the nJ to MJ range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Christopher P.J. Barty, David J. Gibson, Matthew A. Prantil, Eric Cormier
-
Patent number: 8731010Abstract: Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Raymond J. Beach
-
Patent number: 8335420Abstract: Single, or near single transverse mode waveguide definition is produced using a single homogeneous medium to transport both the pump excitation light and generated laser light. By properly configuring the pump deposition and resulting thermal power generation in the waveguide device, a thermal focusing power is established that supports perturbation-stable guided wave propagation of an appropriately configured single or near single transverse mode laser beam and/or laser pulse.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Raymond J. Beach, Jay W. Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Christopher P. J. Barty
-
Publication number: 20120287951Abstract: Single, or near single transverse mode waveguide definition is produced using a single homogeneous medium to transport both the pump excitation light and generated laser light. By properly configuring the pump deposition and resulting thermal power generation in the waveguide device, a thermal focusing power is established that supports perturbation-stable guided wave propagation of an appropriately configured single or near single transverse mode laser beam and/or laser pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Raymond J. Beach, Jay W. Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Christopher P.J. Barty
-
Publication number: 20110243164Abstract: Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Raymond J. Beach
-
Publication number: 20110170563Abstract: Cladding-pumped Raman fiber lasers and amplifiers provide high-efficiency conversion efficiency at high brightness enhancement. Differential loss is applied to both single-pass configurations appropriate for pulsed amplification and laser oscillator configurations applied to high average power cw source generation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: John E. Heebner, Arun K. Sridharan, Jay Walter Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
-
Patent number: 7916762Abstract: Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Michael J Messerly, Jay W Dawson, Raymond J Beach
-
Patent number: 7907810Abstract: A waveguide includes a cladding region that has a refractive index that is substantially uniform and surrounds a wave-guiding region that has an average index that is close to the index of the cladding. The wave-guiding region also contains a thin ring or series of rings that have an index or indices that differ significantly from the index of the cladding. The ring or rings enable the structure to guide light.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Raymond J. Beach, Christopher P. J. Barty
-
Publication number: 20090296747Abstract: Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Raymond J. Beach
-
Publication number: 20080260338Abstract: A waveguide includes a cladding region that has a refractive index that is substantially uniform and surrounds a wave-guiding region that has an average index that is close to the index of the cladding. The wave-guiding region also contains a thin ring or series of rings that have an index or indices that differ significantly from the index of the cladding. The ring or rings enable the structure to guide light.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Michael J. Messerly, Jay W. Dawson, Raymond J. Beach, Christopher P.J. Barty
-
Patent number: 5056888Abstract: A single-mode, single-polarization optical fiber ("PZ fiber") can have a large single-polarization wavelength bandwidth when .eta. (as herein defined) for one symmetry axis is positive when calculated from the refractive index profile determined with one of two orthogonal orientations of polarized light and is negative when calculated from the refractive index profile determined with the other orientation, and for each other symmetry axis of the novel optical fiber .eta. is positive for both orientations of plane polarized light. Preferably the absolute values for .eta. when positive and .eta. when negative are about equal for said one symmetry axis. A preferred PZ fiber can be formed by depositing siliceous layers onto the interior surface of a hollow substrate tube of quartz to provide a preform. After forming two parallel flat faces in its outer surface, the preform is pulled to form a PZ fiber having an ellipitcal stress-applying region.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1989Date of Patent: October 15, 1991Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Michael J. Messerly, James R. Onstott, Raymond C. Mikkelson
-
Patent number: 4896942Abstract: A single-mode, polarization-maintaining optical fiber has both excellent signal attenuation and resistance to adverse bending effects because (1) its cladding and any portion of the jacket that is within five times the radius of the mode-field in its core have a substantially uniform index of refraction that is at least 0.005 less than that of pure silica, and (2) the index of refraction of the core is at least as great as, but preferably not substantially greater than, that of pure silica. Preferably, the stress-applying region of the fiber is elliptical, and the jacket is pure silica.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1989Date of Patent: January 30, 1990Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James R. Onstott, Michael J. Messerly, Raymond C. Mikkelson, Lawrence J. Donalds