Thin disk laser operations with unique thermal management

US8213471B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Integral Laser Solutions, Inc. · US
• The Curators of the University of Missouri · US

Inventors

• LaVerne A. Schlie · Albuquerque, US
• Hongbin Ma · Columbia, US
• Douglas E. Smith · Pittsburgh, US
• Vitaly Gruzdev · Columbia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 24, 2011
• Grant date: Jul 3, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 24, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/0604
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A thermal management apparatus and method for a thin disk laser system enabling the laser system to have near isothermal temperatures across and throughout a thin disk comprising a mechanically controlled oscillating heat pipe having effective thermal conductivity of 10-20,000 W/m*K that promotes near isothermal conditions in lasing of the thin disk, a thin disk lasing crystal or ceramic bonded to the mechanically controlled oscillating heat pipe, and a supporting structure including a surface bonded to the thin disk that matches the CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) of both materials.