Abstract: A high power, diode pumped laser has a Nd:YVO4 gain media. Scaling to higher powers is achieved with the use of a low doped gain media, increasing the length of the gain media as well as increasing the pump volume. Passive cooling is extended to output powers of 10 W or greater.

Abstract: A diode pumped, multi axial mode, intracavity doubled, intracavity tripled laser, includes at least two resonator mirrors defining a resonator cavity. A laser crystal and a doubling crystal are positioned in the resonator cavity. A tripling crystal is also positioned in the resonator cavity. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the laser crystal and produces a laser crystal beam with a plurality of axial modes that are incident on the doubling crystal. This produces a frequency doubled output beam. Further, a diode pumped, multi axial mode, intracavity nonlinearly-converted laser is provided and includes at least two resonator mirrors defining a resonator cavity, a laser crystal and a nonlinear conversion apparatus positioned in the resonator cavity. A nonlinear conversion apparatus is also positioned in the resonator cavity.

Abstract: A high power, diode pumped laser has a Nd:YVO4 gain media. Scaling to higher powers is achieved with the use of a low doped gain media, increasing the length of the gain media as well as increasing the pump volume. Passive cooling is extended to output powers of 10 W or greater .

Abstract: A diode pumped, multi axial mode, intracavity doubled, intracavity tripled laser, includes at least two resonator mirrors defining a resonator cavity. A laser crystal and a doubling crystal are positioned in the resonator cavity. A tripling crystal is also positioned in the resonator cavity. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the laser crystal and produces a laser crystal beam with a plurality of axial modes that are incident on the doubling crystal. This produces a frequency doubled output beam.Further, a diode pumped, multi axial mode, intracavity nonlinearly-converted laser is provided and includes at least two resonator mirrors defining a resonator cavity, a laser crystal and a nonlinear conversion apparatus positioned in the resonator cavity. A nonlinear conversion apparatus is also positioned in the resonator cavity.

Abstract: A diode pumped laser includes a high reflector and an output coupler defining a resonator. The resonator includes a gain medium and a Q-switch and produces a fundamental beam. A first non-linear crystal is positioned extra-cavity of the resonator along a path of the fundamental beam. The first non-linear crystal generates a second harmonic beam from the fundamental beam. The first non-linear crystal is critically phased matched. A second non-linear crystal is portioned extra-cavity of the resonator along a path of the fundamental beam and the path of the second harmonic beam. The second non-linear crystal produces a third harmonic beam. The second non-linear crystal is critically phased matched.

Abstract: A multi-axial mode frequency conversion system includes two resonators. At least two resonator mirrors define a first resonator cavity. A gain medium is positioned in the first resonator cavity. A pump source supplies energy to the gain medium. The first resonator cavity produces a first beam with a plurality of axial modes that are incident on a doubling crystal in the first resonator and produce a frequency doubled output beam. The first resonator cavity provides a sufficient number of axial modes to oscillate so that the doubled output beam has a noise of less than 3% RMS. At least two resonator mirrors define a second resonator cavity coupled to the output beam from the first resonator cavity. The second resonator is configured to provide resonant enhancement of at least a portion of the plurality of axial modes. A non-linear optical material is positioned in the second resonator and configured to produce a harmonic output beam.

Abstract: A golf swing training device includes a golf club including a head coupled to a shaft. At least one laser device detachably coupled to the shaft of the golf club and produces at least one laser beam. A power source is coupled to the laser device. An attachment mechanism detachably secures the laser device to the golf club shaft in a manner such that the laser beam provides a feedback signal to the golfer that is indicative of a position and a motion of the head during the top of a backswing of the golf club by the golfer.

Abstract: A high power diode pumped laser is disclosed which has at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler. At least one laser crystal with strong thermal focussing properties is included. The laser includes at least one diode pump source supplying a pump beam to the laser crystal, producing a thermal lens in the laser crystal. The combination of the laser crystal, thermal lens, resonator mirrors and output coupler create a confocal-to-concentric resonator. An output beam is generated, which may be polarized. Further, a Q-switch may be included in the resonator, particularly when the laser crystal is Nd:YAG.

Abstract: A high power diode pumped, acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO.sub.4 laser includes at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler defining a resonator cavity. At least one acousto-optic Q-switch device and at least one laser crystal, with strong thermal focussing properties, are positioned in the resonator. One or more diode pump sources supply a pump beam to the laser crystal or crystals to generate an output beam. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source.

Abstract: A diode pumped, multiaxial mode, intracavity frequency doubled laser resonator has high amplitude stability, meaning that the percent root mean square noise (%RMS) of the doubled output beam power is low. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to a laser crystal positioned in a resonator cavity and produces a multiaxial mode infrared beam that is incident on a doubling crystal, also positioned in the resonator. A frequency doubled output beam is produced that has an RMS of less than 3%, and in some cases less than 0.2%. The laser is highly efficient, provides high output power, and its output beam is of high spatial quality.

Abstract: A diode pumped laser includes a resonator mirror and an output coupler, defining a laser resonator with a resonator optical axis. A strong thermal lens laser crystal with a TEM.sub.00 mode diameter is mounted in the resonator along the resonator optical axis. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the laser crystal in the laser resonator, and produces an output beam with a diameter larger than the TEM.sub.00 mode diameter to reduce thermal birefringence. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source. A polarizing element can be positioned in the resonator, along with a aperture stop The laser operates well over a large range of pump powers. Its slope efficiency in the TEM.sub.00 mode is greater than 40%, with an overall efficiency greater than 25%. One of the lasing crystals used is Nd:YVO.sub.4. This material exhibits high gain and a short upper state lifetime. These properties make it attractive in designing a Q-switched laser, or one that is insensitive to optical feedback.

Abstract: The ellipticity of a thermal lens is controlled in a diode-pumped anisotropic crystal, such as Nd:YVO4. The crystal has two opposing optical end faces through which a pump beam and an output beam pass. The crystal also has opposing "c" axis crystal faces normal to a "c" axis of the crystal, and opposing "a" axis crystal faces that are normal to an "a" axis of the crystal. A mount supports the crystal and serves as a heat sink. A path is created to conduct heat from the crystal through the "c" faces, while the "a" faces are thermally isolated from heat conduction. The thermal lens ellipticity is controlled in order to produce a round, diffraction limited gaussian beam suitable for applications that require a high power, good quality beam from a simple, reliable laser source.

Abstract: A diode pumped, multiaxial mode, intracavity frequency doubled laser resonator has high amplitude stability, meaning that the percent root mean square noise (% RMS) of the doubled output beam power is low. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to a laser crystal positioned in a resonator cavity and produces a multiaxial mode infrared beam that is incident on a doubling crystal, also positioned in the resonator. A frequency doubled output beam is produced that has an RMS of less than 3%. The laser is highly efficient, provides high output power and its output beam is of high spatial quality.

Abstract: A high efficiency, diode pumped laser includes a resonator mirror and an output coupler which define a nearly confocal resonator. Positioned in the resonator is a laser crystal. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the laser crystal and produces an output beam. A strong thermal lens transforms a non-confocal resonator to a nearly confocal resonator. The TEMOO mode diameter in the laser crystal may be smaller than the pump beam diameter that is incident on the laser crystal. Output powers greater than about 4 W are achieved, the overall optical efficiency is greater than about 25%, and an optical slope efficiency in a TEMOO mode of greater than 40% is possible.

Abstract: A high power, highly efficient laser that produces a polarized, round diffraction limited gaussian beam is disclosed. A strong thermal lens laser crystal with controlled ellipticity, is mounted in a laserhead and pumped by a fiber-bundle-coupled diode source. The pump beam diameter in the crystal is greater than the crystal's TEMOO mode diameter. The laser operates well over a large range of pump powers. Its slope efficiency in the TEMOO mode is greater than 40%, with an overall efficiency greater than 25%. One of the lasing crystals used is Nd:YVO4. This material exhibits high gain and a short upper state lifetime. These properties make it attractive in designing a Q-switched laser, or one that is insensitive to optical feedback.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing beams of laser radiation at wavelengths of 1.44 .mu.m and 1.064 .mu.m on demand. Two Nd:YAG lasers are arranged in a side-by-side configuration and operated to provide laser output at wavelengths of 1.44 .mu.m and 1.064 .mu.m, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, a reflective spectral filter comprised of two reflectors reduces the amount of 1.064 .mu.m radiation in the output beam from the 1.44 .mu.m laser by a factor of 100 to 1000, but only reduces the amount of 1.44 .mu.m radiation in the output beam from the laser by less than 2%. The apparatus also provides collinear addition of the output from the 1.064 .mu.m laser. This collinear addition enables output radiation from both lasers to be coupled together into a single optical fiber. In fact, a user can choose to operate either laser separately or to operate both lasers simultaneously.