Abstract: A solid state laser having an elliptical chamber 22, a solid state laser rod 10, a flashtube 12 for optically pumping the rod 10, external mirrors 24,26 providing an optical cavity, the flashlamp 12 being energized by a pulse generator 14 which generates electrical pulses across the flashlamp 12, is provided with cold burst pumping of the flashlamp 12 by a burst 120 of a predetermined number of pulses, e.g., 40 pulses, each having a predetermined pulse width, e.g., 650 msec, and the burst lasting a predetermined length of time, e.g., 200 msec, not to exceed 1/16 to 1/12 of the thermal time constant of the solid state laser rod 10. Cold burst pumping provides a substantially constant thermal rod profile which reduces divergence of the output beam 36 and increases beam brightness, thereby improving the productivity and precision of solid state lasers.

Abstract: A plurality of holes are drilled with a repetitively pulsed laser. The time between pulses at one drilling location is utilized to drill the other holes. A rotatable mirror controllably directs the beam to the focusing lens. The distance between the mirror and the lens determines whether the drilled holes are parallel or divergent.