Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical mask at low cost and so on having a structure capable of reducing further a peak of beam intensity caused by diffraction. The optical mask is constructed by overlapping a first mask and a second mask. The first mask and second mask each are a serrated aperture mask. The schematic shapes of the respective apertures of the first mask and second mask are almost rectangular and identical to each other. The fringe defining the aperture of the first mask is machined in a serrated shape, and the fringe defining the aperture of the second mask also is machined in a serrated shape. In the optical mask, the first mask and second mask are overlapped so that the serrations of the fringes defining the respective apertures of the first mask and second mask are located alternately.

Abstract: A solid-state laser apparatus which can improve its durability is provide. In the solid-state laser apparatus 1, a main pipe 11 for circulating a coolant through a solid-state laser medium 3 is provided with a heat exchanger 14, whereby the laser medium 3 is prevented from raising its temperature. When the coolant becomes acidic or alkaline, a controller 24 controls a flow regulating valve 23, so as to increase the flow rate of the coolant flowing into a bypass pipe 21 provided with a deionizing filter 22, whereby the acidity or alkalinity of the coolant can be weakened. This can prevent the coolant from deteriorating a predetermined part of the laser apparatus 3, and thus can improve the durability of the solid-state laser apparatus 1.

Abstract: In the solid-state laser apparatus 1, a main pipe 11 for circulating a coolant through a solid-state laser medium 3 is provided with a heat exchanger 14, whereby the laser medium 3 is prevented from raising its temperature. When the coolant becomes acidic or alkaline, a controller 24 controls a flow regulating valve 23, so as to increase the flow rate of the coolant flowing into a bypass pipe 21 provided with a deionizing filter 22, whereby the acidity or alkalinity of the coolant can be weakened. This can prevent the coolant from deteriorating a predetermined part of the laser apparatus 3, and thus can improve the durability of the solid-state laser apparatus 1. Also, since the bypass pipe 21 connected in parallel to a part of the main pipe 11 is provided with the deionizing filter 22, the flow rate of the coolant circulating through the main pipe 11 can be restrained from decreasing, and the cooling efficiency of the laser medium 3 can be prevented from lowering.

Abstract: A solid-state laser apparatus which can cool a solid-state laser medium such that the solid-state laser medium attains a uniform temperature along the propagating direction of light to be amplified is provided. In a solid-state laser apparatus 1, a coolant circulating through flow paths 12a, 12b comes into direct contact with a pair of reflecting end faces 5a, 5b of a solid-state laser medium 3, whereby the laser medium 3 heated by pumping light emitted from semiconductor lasers 9 can efficiently be cooled. Since the coolant circulates through the flow paths 12a, 12b in a direction substantially perpendicular to a propagating surface P of light to be amplified L, the solid-state laser medium 3 can be cooled such as to attain a uniform temperature along a propagating direction of the light L. This can lower the thermal lens effect and thermal birefringence effect in the solid-state laser medium 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical mask at low cost and so on having a structure capable of reducing further a peak of beam intensity caused by diffraction. The optical mask is constructed by overlapping a first mask and a second mask. The first mask and second mask each are a serrated aperture mask. The schematic shapes of the respective apertures of the first mask and second mask are almost rectangular and identical to each other. The fringe defining the aperture of the first mask is machined in a serrated shape, and the fringe defining the aperture of the second mask also is machined in a serrated shape. In the optical mask, the first mask and second mask are overlapped so that the serrations of the fringes defining the respective apertures of the first mask and second mask are located alternately.