Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring the radiation power of a laser. Two partially transmitting mirrors are arranged in the main laser beam which, with respect to their orientation in space, are turned by 90.degree. with respect to one another and by which a portion of the radiation is coupled out, and the partial beam is directed to an electro optic transducer. The measuring arrangement is therefore independent of the polarization condition of the main laser beam.

Abstract: Sensitive components of a laser such as a resonator mirror, a decoupling mirror or the like, are protected against an initial laser beam surge caused by the ignition of a laser with an arc discharge lamp, by a beam interrupting switch having two switch sections each carrying a filter or shutter switchable into a laser beam path in response to an arc discharge lamp ignition pulse. For a beam interruption the filters or shutters are located directly in front of and directly behind of a lasing element as viewed in the beam path direction. The switch sections are operated by a shifting mechanism responsive to the ignition pulse to bring the switch sections into the beam path and to a control signal to bring the switch sections out of the beam path or into a beam releasing position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic beam switch for a laser resonator or generator, specifically for the guided or controlled transmission of light into a light conductor has two electrically controllable rotary magnets arranged in twin fashion for redundancy. Each rotary magnet operates a filter glass plate to tilt these plates into the beam path for interrupting the beam generation. The plates (13a, 13b) cooperate with respective switch contacts in corresponding switches (14, 15) arranged so that during activation, that is during switching-on, both rotary magnets (11, 12) are connected in parallel with each other. Upon completion of a "flight phase " or switch over phase the rotary magnets are automatically connected in series with each other to operate at half power as compared to the initial full power energizing phase. RC-components are arranged to prevent a constant activation of the magnets.