Abstract: In order to improve a solid-state laser comprising a resonator, at least one solid-state rod arranged in the resonator and a pumping power source for exciting the solid-state rod such that the dissipation heat can be controlled better and excitation for high powers is possible in a simple way, it is proposed that the resonator be a coupled resonator, that the resonator have two elongated excitation sections lying in one plane with one of the solid-state rods being arranged in their respective beam, that the resonator have a coupling section which the beams of the excitation sections enter as outer beams extending parallel to one another but in spaced relation to one another and which couples the excitation sections with one another by displacement of the outer beams in the plane defined by these to a coupling axis lying parallel to and between the outer beams and beyond this coupling axis, and that irradiated by the pumping power source on another side surface.

Abstract: In order to further develop an optical waveguide comprising first and second optically reflecting wall surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction and having a constant width transversely to the longitudinal direction, both wall surfaces facing one another and extending at a constant spacing from one another and enclosing a space in which radiation is guided by reflection in the longitudinal direction, such that it is flexible and hence permits guidance of the radiation in different directions, it is proposed that a first region of the waveguide be movable in a flexible manner relative to a second region thereof, and that each wall surface be carried for this purpose by a strip which on account of its inherent rigidity is bendable in a non-buckling manner perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the wall surfaces of the strips be held at a constant spacing from one another by a supporting structure comprising supporting surfaces which are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction an

Abstract: In order to so improve a high-frequency-excited, diffusion-cooled waveguide laser comprising a folded, unstable laser resonator with a first resonator axis branch and a second resonator axis branch, a folded, optical waveguide with a first waveguide branch and a second waveguide branch penetrated by the first and the second resonator axis branch, respectively, in their longitudinal direction, and each having two spaced, optical waveguide surfaces, and at least one reflection element with a reflection surface coupling the waveguide branches with one another, that as low reflection losses as possible occur with the folding and that the laser is as compact as possible, it is proposed that the two waveguide branches be coupled with one another at a first end by a single, first reflection surface, each with single beam reflection thereat, in that the two resonator axis branches intersect at their point of impact on the first reflection surface and that the two waveguide branches be curved in the direction towards

Abstract: In order to improve a waveguide configuration for high-frequency-excited, diffusion-cooled gas laser system comprising a waveguide carrier with a cavity closed like a ring in an azimuthal direction in relation to a longitudinal axis and extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and a waveguide for guidance of a laser beam along an optical axis, the waveguide being arranged in the cavity and formed by waveguide wall surfaces disposed at a constant spacing from one another, the width of the waveguide wall surfaces transversely to the lengthwise extent of the waveguide in the direction of the optical axis being a multiple of their spacing from one another, and the waveguide wall surfaces enclosing a discharge space between them, such that with a waveguide geometry which is as expedient as possible, i.e.

Abstract: In order to improve an electrically excited, diffusion-cooled highpower laser comprising two wall surfaces slightly spaced from one another and forming an optical waveguide, the width of the wall surfaces being a multiple of the space between them and the surfaces enclosing between them a flow-free discharge chamber, and also comprising an optical resonator having resonator mirrors disposed at both ends of said waveguide, such that his results in a laser beam which can be well focused, it is suggested that the resonator be an optically unstable resonator including a beam path extending lengthwise of a resonator axis and having an expansion transverse to the resonator axis extending as far as at least one exiting laser beam and that the transverse expansion extend transversely to a longitudinal direction of the waveguide and approximately parallel to the wall surfaces.

Abstract: In order to improve an electrically excited, diffusion-cooled laser system comprising two wall surfaces slightly spaced from one another and forming an optical waveguide, the width of the wall surfaces being a multiple of the space between them and the surfaces enclosing between them a flow-free discharge chamber, and also comprising an optically unstable resonator having a resonator beam path travelling through at least part of the discharge chamber and extending lengthwise of a resonator axis as well as having an expansion transverse to the resonator axis extending as far as at least one laser beam exiting from the resonator, this transverse expansion extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of said waveguide and approximately parallel to said wall surfaces, such that the waveguide can be constructed with as large a surface area as possible without losing the beam quality of the beam exiting the waveguide, it is suggested that the resonator be followed by a laser amplifier, the amplifier beam path

Abstract: To improve the power transfer of a glow discharge between a cathode (3) and an anode (4) in a glow discharge space (2), through which a laser-active is being passed (5) at high speed, the cathode is constructed to have a rotating surface, projecting through slits (8) of the walls (1) defining the discharge space into the discharge space, the tangential or surface speed of the cathode (3) being at least approximately equal to the flow speed of the gas, so that the gas will flow along the cathode in essentially laminar, linear flow, thereby avoiding turbulence at the surface and instabilities in the glow discharge.

Abstract: A high-power laser, especially one with a gaseous excitation medium, having an unstable optical resonator is disclosed. Fully reflecting mirrors, whose planes of curvature are parallel to one another, form the ends of the unstable optical resonator. A third mirror is concavely curved in a plane perpendicular with respect to the other two mirrors. The mirrors have a rectangular cross section and are preferably metallic. The mirrors constituting the ends of the unstable optical resonator form a confocal resonator.

Abstract: Gas laser of circular cross section perpendicular to the direction of beam propagation, having an optical resonator. The laser has, for continuous or modulated continuous beam operation, a tube as the inner electrode (2), which is connected to a high-frequency voltage source. The outer electrode (4) likewise comprises a tube which is disposed coaxially with the inner electrode (2). Between the two electrodes (2, 4) is the annular excitation chamber (3). The tube wall serving as outer electrode (4) is provided with slot-like cavities (1) which are open toward the excitation chamber (3) and serve for the cooling of the gas therein.

Abstract: A gas laser of circular cross section perpendicular to the direction of beam propagation and having an optical resonator is disclosed. The laser has, for continuous or modulated continuous beam operation, a metal tube as inside conductor, which is connected to a high-frequency voltage source. An outside conductor, which is coaxial with the inside conductor consists of a tube of metal of good electrical conductivity. The inside conductor is surrounded, leaving an intervening space, by a jacket tube of dielectric or metallic material. A dielectric cooling liquid of electrical insulating quality and low loss factor for high-frequency fields flows through the space between the inside conductor and the jacket tube.

Abstract: High-power laser metalworking apparatus, especially one having a carbon dioxide laser. After the laser beam emerges from an optical resonator it is deflected by a mirror against a workpiece and focused on the surface thereon. An image-rotating means is disposed in the beam path after the deflection mirror, and has an odd number of fully reflective mirrors, but at least 3 such mirrors. The angle of rotation of the image-rotating means is electronically controllable in accordance with the direction of the path of the working movement. The image-rotating means and focusing system advantageously form a single component in which at least one of the mirrors of the image-rotating means focuses the laser beam onto the surface of the workpiece.