Abstract:
A compact diode pumped solid state slab laser gain module 20 is described. The laser gain module comprises a ceramic housing 22, a laser gain medium 24 disposed in the laser cavity 22, and an optical pumping source. The housing is preferably composed of alumina which provides thermal and structural stability at high temperatures to maintain beam alignment and eliminates parasitic oscillations. The laser gain medium is preferably a slab of crystalline Nd:YAG. Diode laser arrays 48, 50 are provided to pump at least one side face 30, 32 of the laser gain medium. Each diode laser array 48, 50 is mounted to a manifold 40, 42 preferably formed of a plastic, non-contaminating material. The laser gain module comprises a simplified cooling distribution for cooling the laser gain medium to produce a substantially uniform temperature distribution between its top and bottom faces, and for cooling the diode laser arrays. The side faces 30, 32 are cooled by passing a coolant through flow channels 62, 64 defined between the laser gain medium and windows 50, 60 comprised of sapphire fritted to the housing.
Abstract:
A solid state laser apparatus and a laser machining apparatus are provided to provide high power laser beam having an excellent condensing performance at high efficiency and with high reliability. In the solid state laser apparatus, a recess is provided in a supporter disposed on a slab side surface at an excitation area corresponding portion. A high reflectance body having a cooling water filtrating groove is disposed in the recess to contact with a slab facing surface with pressure. The supporter contacts slab longitudinal both ends with pressure through a silicon rubber plate which is transparent to excitation light. A transparent silicon rubber O-ring is disposed to extend over an entire peripheral portion of a plane formed by a slab surface including the supporter pressure contacting porting and the supporter so as to seal cooling water and elastically support the slab.
Abstract:
A solid-state laser architecture producing a beam of extremely high quality and brightness, including a master oscillator operating in conjunction with a zig-zag amplifier, an image relaying telescope and a phase conjugation cell. One embodiment of the laser architecture compensates for birefringence that is thermally induced in the amplifier, but injects linearly polarized light into the phase conjugation cell. Another embodiment injects circularly polarized light into the phase conjugation cell and includes optical components that eliminate birefringence effects arising in a first pass through the amplifier. Optional features permit the use of a frequency doubler assembly to provide output at twice optical frequencies, and an electro-optical switch or Faraday rotator to effect polarization angle rotation if the amplifier material can only be operated at one polarization. The zig-zag amplifier is cooled by flow of cooling liquid, preferably using longitudinal flow to minimize temperature gradients in a vertical direction, and has cooling channel seals disposed in dead zones that receive no light, to minimize optical damage to the seals. Light is input to the amplifier at a near normal angle of incidence, to minimize polarization by reflection and to permit a polarizer to be used to extract an output beam from the amplifier. Antireflective coatings on edges and on sides of the amplifier eliminate parasitic oscillations, and wedge-shaped windows provide uniform pumping by eliminating gaps between diode arrays.
Abstract:
High energy bursts are produced from a solid state laser operated in a heat capacity limited regime. Instead of cooling the laser, the active medium is thermally well isolated. As a result, the active medium will heat up until it reaches some maximum acceptable temperature. The waste heat is stored in the active medium itself. Therefore, the amount of energy the laser can put out during operation is proportional to its mass, the heat capacity of the active medium, and the temperature difference over which it is being operated. The high energy burst capacity of a heat capacity operated solid state laser, together with the absence of a heavy, power consuming steady state cooling system for the active medium, will make a variety of applications possible. Alternately, cooling takes place during a separate sequence when the laser is not operating. Industrial applications include new material working processes.
Abstract:
A housing for a slab laser gain media with a rectangular cross section which provides for a uniform flow of coolant over the slab top and bottom surfaces (18) and (20), while insulating the slab side surfaces (14) and (16). The slab gain media is bonded between two tabs at each end of the housing (48a, 48b, 50a, 50b). The slab top and bottom surfaces are made level with the tab top and bottom surfaces. Seals are placed on the continuous surface formed by the slab top and bottom surfaces and the tab top and bottom surfaces, thus sealing the ends of the housing, and also surrounding the coolant inlets and outlets. Windows (32) and (34) are then placed on top of each seal to form two thin cavities confining the coolant to flow across the slab top and bottom surfaces (18) and (20), and allowing for the close-coupling of either one or two pump sources, such as a two dimensional laser diode array assembly (58) and (60).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a high energy solid-state laser using a new optical pumping device, comprising optical fibers coupled to optical pumping sources of great power and to a laseing medium. The coupling surface through which optical pump energy is transmitted onto the laseing medium is displaced by motor for improved heat dissipation and selective coupling of the pump energy to various resonant cavities.
Abstract:
Pumping laser diodes (3) are disposed around a reflector tube (2) having narrow windows (14) through which the emitting areas of the diodes look. The tube leaves an angular gap (16) around a rod to be pumped (1) and a cooling liquid flows in said gap. The invention is particularly applicable to optically pumping a YAG rod.
Abstract:
A laser beam processing apparatus includes a body providing a generally cylindrical bounding structure for a cavity. A window allows admission of an incident light beam into the cavity and emission of a laser beam from the cavity. A plurality of reflectors are arranged to sequentially reflect the light beam and/or light generated thereby along a light path which is generally polygonal as viewed from an end of the cavity. Laser material is disposed in the light path whereby the light generated by the light beam includes light which is derived by stimulated emission from the laser material.
Abstract:
A laser (1) has its laser head (3) connected to its base (2) by hinges having a common axis (R) parallel to the laser beam axis (4a). When the lamp for energizing the laser rod must be replaced, the head (3) can be pivoted about the axis (R) to a position in which the lamp can easily be removed from its cavity and a new lamp fitted therein, the removal and fitting being accomplished by moving the lamps along their axis (5a).
Abstract:
Apparatus configured to minimize wavefront distortion of a coherent light beam is disclosed. The lasing medium of the laser apparatus has a hexagonal cross section and an internal surface with a circular cross section coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the lasing medium. The internal surface defines an interior space for receiving an optical pumping source. The external faces of the lasing medium are surrounded with a circumferential reflector and fluid coolant is flowed over the internal surface and external faces. The coherent light beam is passed through the lasing medium to follow a helical course totally internally reflecting off of the external faces.