Abstract: A solid state laser comprises a cavity resonator in the form of a generally cylindrical body and, located within the resonator, an active region which generates lasing light when suitably pumped. The resonator has a relatively high effective refractive index (n>2 and typically n>3) is sufficiently deformed from circularity so as to support at least one librational mode (e.g., a V-shaped or a bow-tie mode, the latter being presently preferred for generating relatively high power, directional outputs). Specifically described is a Group III-V compound semiconductor, quantum cascade (QC), micro-cylinder laser in which the resonator has a flattened quadrupolar deformation from circularity. This laser exhibits both a highly directional output emission and a three-order of magnitude increase in optical output power compared to conventional semiconductor micro-cylinder QC lasers having circularly symmetric resonators.

Abstract: An asymmetric resonant optical cavity is constructed of an optically transmissive dielectric material having an index of refraction n. The cavity is configured as an oval cross-section of area A, having major and minor axes. An optical input couples an optical signal of wavelength &lgr; into the cavity. An output coupler is positioned in a near-field region of a surface point of the cavity thereby enabling coupling thereinto of optical energy of wavelength &lgr;. The surface point on the cavity is determined by a minimum value of an expression which relates the Sin of the angle of incidence, at an angle ø, to the curvature of the outer surface of the cavity.

Abstract: A solid state laser comprises a cavity resonator in the form of a generally cylindrical body and, located within the resonator, an active region which generates lasing light when suitably pumped. The resonator has a relatively high effective refractive index (n>2 and typically n>3) is sufficiently deformed from circularity so as to support at least one librational mode (e.g., a V-shaped or a bow-tie mode, the latter being presently preferred for generating relatively high power, directional outputs). Specifically described is a Group III-V compound semiconductor, quantum cascade (QC), micro-cylinder laser in which the resonator has a flattened quadrupolar deformation from circularity. This laser exhibits both a highly directional output emission and a three-order of magnitude increase in optical output power compared to conventional semiconductor micro-cylinder QC lasers having circularly symmetric resonators.

Abstract: An asymmetric resonant optical cavity is constructed of an optically transmissive dielectric material having an index of refraction n. The cavity is configured as an oval cross-section of area A, having major and minor axes. An optical input couples an optical signal of wavelength .lambda. into the cavity. An output coupler is positioned in a near-field region of a surface point of the cavity, thereby enabling coupling thereinto of optical energy of wavelength .lambda.. The surface point on the cavity is determined by a minimum value of an expression which relates the Sin of the angle of incidence, at an angle .phi., to the curvature of the outer surface of the cavity. Further, the index of refraction n of the cavity's dielectric is chosen so as to avoid emission of physically separated beams at the point of exit of a beam.