High-average power active mirror solid-state laser with multiple subapertures
US6810060B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/094
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for achieving ultrahigh-power output from a solid-state laser. The solid-state laser of the subject invention uses multiple disk-shaped laser gain media (subapertures) placed adjacent to each other to fill an optical aperture of an AMA module. In one preferred embodiment each of the laser gain media is provided with optical coatings for operation in the active mirror configuration. Furthermore, each of the laser gain media is hydrostatic pressure-clamped to a rigid, cooled substrate, which allows it to maintain a prescribed shape even when experiencing significant thermal load. A cooling medium can be provided to a heat exchanger internal to the substrate and/or flowed through the passages on the substrate surface, thereby directly cooling the laser gain medium.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.