Patents by Inventor Thomas Udem

Thomas Udem 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: 10297974
    Abstract: A method of generating laser pulses (1) includes: creating a circulating light field in resonator device (11) having resonator length L and an intra-cavity dispersion and configured for supporting light field resonator modes, and generating a pulse train of laser pulses (1) by a mode-locking mechanism. Laser pulses (1) are generated with a repetition frequency and provide a frequency comb with carrier frequency ?o and comb modes in frequency space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V.
    Inventors: Thomas Udem, Akira Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20180233877
    Abstract: A method of generating laser pulses (1) includes: creating a circulating light field in resonator device (11) having resonator length L and an intra-cavity dispersion and configured for supporting light field resonator modes, and generating a pulse train of laser pulses (1) by a mode-locking mechanism. Laser pulses (1) are generated with a repetition frequency and provide a frequency comb with carrier frequency ?o and comb modes in frequency space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas UDEM, Akira OZAWA
  • Patent number: 8988766
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable optical cavity, in which an obstacle is formed or arranged on the optical axis in the form of a through-opening in one of the mirrors or of an input- or output-coupling element, in order to enable a direct geometric access to the optical axis. The mirrors of the cavity are arranged such that a degeneracy of a plurality of transverse eigenmodes of the cavity occurs without an obstacle, by the combination of which an intensity minimum is obtained in the cavity with an obstacle at the position of the through-opening or of the input- or output-coupling element. With this configuration an optical cavity of high finesse which has a position of maximum intensity on the optical axis can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gelleschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V., RWTH Aachen
    Inventors: Peter Russbuldt, Johannes Weitenberg, Joachim Pupeza, Thomas Udem
  • Publication number: 20140002892
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable optical cavity, in which an obstacle is formed or arranged on the optical axis in the form of a through-opening in one of the mirrors or of an input- or output-coupling element, in order to enable a direct geometric access to the optical axis. The mirrors of the cavity are arranged such that a degeneracy of a plurality of transverse eigenmodes of the cavity occurs without an obstacle, by the combination of which an intensity minimum is obtained in the cavity with an obstacle at the position of the through-opening or of the input- or output-coupling element. With this configuration an optical cavity of high finesse which has a position of maximum intensity on the optical axis can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Russbuldt, Johannes Weitenberg, Joachim Pupeza, Thomas Udem
  • Patent number: 7672342
    Abstract: A method of generating pulsed coherent radiation, comprises the step of generating high harmonic pulses by an interaction of laser light pulses with a non-linear medium contained in a resonant cavity, wherein the non-linear medium is arranged in an environment of reduced pressure. Furthermore, a radiation source of generating pulsed coherent radiation is described, comprising a laser pulse source for generating laser light pulses, a resonant cavity including a non-linear medium for generating high harmonic pulses by an interaction of the laser light pulses with the non-linear medium, wherein the non-linear medium is arranged in an environment of reduced pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Gohle, Theodor W. Hänsch, Ronald Holzwarth, Thomas Udem
  • Publication number: 20060268949
    Abstract: A method of generating pulsed coherent radiation, comprises the step of generating high harmonic pulses by an interaction of laser light pulses with a non-linear medium contained in a resonant cavity, wherein the non-linear medium is arranged in an environment of reduced pressure. Furthermore, a radiation source of generating pulsed coherent radiation is described, comprising a laser pulse source for generating laser light pulses, a resonant cavity including a non-linear medium for generating high harmonic pulses by an interaction of the laser light pulses with the non-linear medium, wherein the non-linear medium is arranged in an environment of reduced pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Christoph Gohle, Theodor Hansch, Ronald Holzwarth, Thomas Udem
  • Patent number: 7026594
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing radio frequency waves, whereby a pulse laser for producing light pulses having a predetermined spectrum of frequency modes and a predetermined recurrence frequency is operated. The light pulses of the pulse laser are detected by means of a detector device, and corresponding electrical output signals forming the radio frequency signals are produced. Said pulse laser is actuated in a stabilized manner by means of an optical reference signal in such a way that the recurrence frequency of the light pulse is fixed. The invention also relates to a radio frequency generator for implementing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung der Wissenschaft E.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Holzwarth, Thomas Udem, Theodor Hansch
  • Patent number: 6785303
    Abstract: A process for operation of a laser device (1) is described, whereby circulating light pulses each comprising spectral components according to a plurality of longitudinal modes of a resonator configuration (3) are generated in the resonator configuration (3) and subjected to a compensation of group velocity dispersion, and a predetermined linear dispersion is introduced into the light path of the resonator configuration (3), so that at least one mode has a predetermined frequency and/or the mode distance between the modes has a predetermined value. Furthermore, regulations for stabilizing the laser device on the basis of this process and applications of the regulations for the generation for stabilized, ultra-short light pulses, generation of optical frequencies and in the frequency and/or time measuring technique as well as in the spectroscopy are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften e. V.
    Inventors: Ronald Holzwarth, Jörg Reichert, Thomas Udem, Theodor W. Hänsch
  • Publication number: 20040021056
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing radio frequency waves, whereby a pulse laser for producing light pulses having a predetermined spectrum of frequency modes and a predetermined recurrence frequency is operated. The light pulses of the pulse laser are detected by means of a detector device, and corresponding electrical output signals forming the radio frequency signals are produced. Said pulse laser is actuated in a stabilized manner by means of an optical reference signal in such a way that the recurrence frequency of the light pulse is fixed. The invention also relates to a radio frequency generator for implementing said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Ronald Holzwarth, Thomas Udem, Theodor Hansch