Abstract: A solar light pumped laser performing laser oscillation by pumping a laser medium with solar light, the solar light pumped laser including, a laser medium 12, a container device 14 that supports the laser medium 12 therein, the container device 14 being provided with a focusing optical element 22 for irradiating solar light focused along the laser medium 12, while retaining cooling liquid in a space between the laser medium 12 and the container device 14, and additionally, a pair of optical reflection elements (16, 18) arranged adjacent to the opposing ends of the laser medium. An end of the container device 14 has Brewster's angle. Further, the cooling liquid according to the present invention contains water functioning as an optical medium to form a water lens simultaneously with cleaning the focusing optical element 22.

Abstract: An extremely versatile diode laser assembly is provided, the assembly comprised of a plurality of diode laser subassemblies mounted to a stepped cooling block. The stepped cooling block allows the fabrication of a close packed and compact assembly in which individual diode laser subassembly output beams do not interfere with one another.

Abstract: A laser system thermal management system includes a laser gain assembly and a thermal management assembly. The laser gain assembly includes a laser gain medium and may include laser pump diodes. The thermal management system includes a high pressure gas tank connected to an open-cycle Joule-Thompson refrigerator. Cooled and partially liquefied gas is introduced into a reservoir. The reservoir may be in good direct thermal contact with the laser gain assembly or via a closed loop recirculating fluid heat exchanger. The heat generated by the laser gain assembly is removed by heat exchange with the cooled gas and condensate in the reservoir either by direct thermal contact or via the recirculating heat exchanger loop. Gas evaporating in the reservoir is vented.

Abstract: A mount for suspending a laser medium has a cross section profile. The mount is configured to conduct heat away from the laser medium without imparting undue stress. The mount includes a laser host medium having a first cross section profile. A heat sink defines a bore. The bore has a second cross section profile configured to envelop the first cross section profile and further defines a generally uniform interspace between the first cross section profile and second first cross section profile. An amalgam of a mercury soluble metal is formed to substantially fill the interspace to support the laser host medium.

Abstract: A high energy system comprising a high energy electrical device powered by an electrical generator both of which are cooled by a cryogenic liquid oxidant stored in a storage tank. A power turbine powered by a combustor using fuel and the oxidant drives the electrical generator. A turbopump powered by a portion of exhaust flow from the power turbine pumps the cryogenic liquid oxidant from the storage tank to the generator and the device. In an exemplary embodiment of the system, the electrical device is a directed energy weapon, uses liquid air as the liquid oxidant, and uses a variable geometry turbine nozzle in the power turbine. A reheater may be used between a high pressure turbine and a lower pressure turbine of the power turbine. Compressor bleed from a gas turbine engine may provide air augmentation to the power turbine.

Abstract: A hand held laser for treating a skin condition includes a housing comprising a first end, a second end and a cavity therein wherein the cavity includes a substantially light reflective surface and wherein the housing comprises at least one fin extending from an exterior surface of the housing. The laser includes a flash lamp having a first axis and being retained within the cavity in a first selected position and a laser rod having a second axis and being retained within the cavity in a second selected position and wherein the first axis and the second axis are substantially parallel to each other, wherein as the flash lamp is pumped the laser rod produces a laser beam for treating the skin condition.

Abstract: A laser oscillator includes a light condensing block having a through-hole for housing a laser medium, and an aperture for introducing excitation light from an excitation light source module into the through-hole; an end plate fixed to an end of the light condensing block, in which a cooling water channel for leading cooling water to the light condensing block and a cooling water channel for leading cooling water to the excitation light source module are formed; and a flow tube fixed and sealed by the end plate, for forming a cooling water passage for the laser medium; and an excitation light source module in which a cooling water channel, communicating with the water channel for the excitation light source module in the end plate, is formed for cooling its excitation light source.

Abstract: Expansion-adapted mounting and electrical contacting of laser diode elements are connected with one another in terms of structural engineering such that the laser diode elements can be stacked or arranged laterally in one plane for producing vertical diode laser arrangements with low production complexity. The upper and the lower layers of a heat-distributing multilayer substrate for a diode laser subelement, between which a separating layer is disposed, contain metal strata regions arranged spaced from one another of which for forming strata region pairs each strata region of the upper layer is joined electrically conducting to a strata region of the lower layer. The separating layer contains at least one electrically insulating stratum made of non-metallic material and the sum of the thicknesses of metallic strata in the multilayer substrate exceeds the sum of the thicknesses of non-metallic strata at least in a partial region perpendicular to the mounting surface for at least one laser diode element.

Abstract: A laser device which may be used as an oscillator or amplifier comprising a chamber having a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises a solid-state element containing active laser ion within the volume. A cooling fluid flows about the solid-state element and a semiconductor laser diode provides optical pump radiation into the volume of the laser chamber such that laser emission from the device passes through the gain medium and the fluid. The laser device provides the advantages of a solid-state gain medium laser (e.g., diode-pumping, high power density, etc), but enables operation at higher average power and beam quality than would be achievable from a pure solid-state medium.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a light source device to cool a solid-state light source at a high efficiency even in a case where a large quantity of heat has developed from the solid-state light source including a minute heat generation region. A light source device includes a solid-state light source, micro heat pipes which are provided on the light-emission rear surface side of the solid-state light source, and liquid cooling portions which are provided at parts of the micro heat pipes.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) module that is configured to operate in a wide temperature range without severely minimizing its lifetime or requiring excessive drive current. The VCSEL portion of the VCSEL module is tuned to operate efficiently at a higher than normal temperature. In addition to the VCSEL, the VCSEL module includes a heater and a temperature sensor that are used to maintain a particular minimum temperature that is within the efficient operation range of the VCSEL. By maintaining a temperature that is within the efficient operation range, the VCSEL module reduces the current required to operate the VCSEL and extends the overall lifetime of the VCSEL. The additional components of the VCSEL module do not interfere in any way with the signal quality produced by the VCSEL.

Abstract: A laser diode array assembly. The assembly includes a plurality of vertical emitting laser diodes. Each laser diode has a vertical emitting surface and an exposed substrate surface opposite from the emitting surface. Each vertical emitting surfaces emit a laser beam. The assembly further includes one or more nozzles that directly spray a liquid onto the exposed substrate surfaces.

Abstract: An optically stacked, laser diode array module (10) includes a mounting block (100) having a series of stepped, parallel diode mounting surfaces (101) on one face of the block, each diode mounting surface cooperating with a respective pair of reference surfaces (102, 103) of the block to form a respective outside block corner, a series of laser diodes (300) affixed to the block, with facets of the diode aligned with the reference surfaces forming the outside block corner with the mounting surface on which the diode is disposed, such that a corner of each diode is aligned with a respective corner of the block, and a beam reflector (200) secured to the block and having a series of stepped, parallel surfaces, each positioned to intercept and reflect a respective one of the beams (500) from the laser diodes, such that the reflected beams are parallel and stacked. The beams (500) emitted from the laser diodes (300) can be collimated by microlenses (400).

Abstract: A laser diode package includes a laser diode, a cooler, and a metallization layer. The laser diode is used for converting electrical energy to optical energy. The cooler receives and routes a coolant from a cooling source via internal channels. The cooler includes a plurality of ceramic sheets and a highly thermally-conductive sheet. The ceramic sheets are fused together and the thermally-conductive sheet is attached to a top ceramic sheet of the plurality of ceramic sheets. The metallization layer has at least a portion on the thermally-conductive sheet. The portion is electrically coupled to the laser diode for conducting the electrical energy to the laser diode.

Abstract: A laser processing apparatus which can correct the fluctuation in laser light emitting direction among laser heads is provided. In the laser processing apparatus 1, a laser head 13 is held and cooled by a cooling jacket 11, and thus can be operated stably. Also, even if the emitting direction of laser light L fluctuates when replacing the laser head 13 because of its damage or the like, a regulator 15 can adjusts the position and inclination of the cooling jacket 11 with respect to an optical system main part 4, so that the emitting direction of the laser light L can coincide with the optical axis of the optical system main part 4. Thus, the laser processing apparatus 1 can easily correct the fluctuation in the laser light emitting direction among the laser heads 13.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the temperature of a heat-generating component such as a laser. A microelectromechanical system for controlling the temperature of the heat-generating component includes a magnetic heat sink device, a temperature sensor, and control circuitry. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the heat-generating component through the heat sink and feeds the sensed temperature to the control circuitry. The detected temperature is compared to a predetermined temperature set point. When the detected temperature is higher than the temperature set point, a command is sent to the magnetic heat sink to take more heat out of the heat-generating component. When the detected temperature is lower than the temperature set point, a command is sent to the magnetic heat sink to take less heat out of the heat-generating component.

Abstract: A laser diode assembly has a laser diode. The laser diode has an emitting surface and a reflective surface opposing the emitting surface. The laser diode has first and second side surfaces between the emitting and reflective surfaces. A first electrically-insulating heat sink is attached to the first side surface of the laser diode via a first solder bond, and the first heat sink has a first cooling channel. A second electrically-insulating heat sink is attached to the second side surface of the laser diode via a second solder bond, and the second electrically-insulating heat sink has a second cooling channel. A substrate has a top side and a bottom side, and the top side being in communication with a first bottom side of the first electrically-insulating heat sink and a second bottom side of the second electrically-insulating heat sink. The substrate has a flow channel system for passing a coolant to the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel.

Abstract: A hand-held laser device includes a casing formed with a substantially hollow interior space and having a laser emitter thereinside. The laser emitter is formed with an exciting lamp and a laser rod. A source generating a stream of gaseous coolant is provided within the interior space. A fluid cooling arrangement at least partially surrounding the laser rod is disposed within the stream of gaseous coolant for heat removal therefrom.

Abstract: Various electro-optical modulator module designs are presented, which can provide for uniform, symmetric, and efficient heat removal for mode-locking, Q-switching, and/or cavity dumping operations. Heat can be uniformly extracted from an EO crystal without imposing undue stress, thereby preventing birefringence and laser beam degradation. A liquid-cooling approach can be used for high-duty operations, such as mode-locking operations. Efficient heat removal can prevent thermal run-away from electrical heating of the crystal due to the large drop in the electrical resistance of CdTe with increasing temperature when operated above 50° C. RF or video arcing and subsequent damage to the EO crystal can be prevented by surrounding the crystal with a low dielectric constant material that lowers the capacitance coupling to ground, while still maintaining good thermal cooling.

Abstract: A solid state laser amplifier architecture in which multiple zig-zag slab laser amplifiers (50) are stacked together, side-pumped using a common pump source (52, 54), and cooled with a common cooling system. The stack of zig-zag slabs (50) produces an array of sub-beams (62) that can be combined coherently into a single composite output beam. Variations in pump power absorption through the stack are mitigated by selection of doping levels for the slabs (50). The composite output beam is sufficiently symmetrical to be directed through conventional optics of circular cross section. Multiple stacks may be arranged in a two-dimensional array to obtain even higher output powers.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for cooling a crystal rod of a side-pumped laser. A transparent housing receives the crystal rod therethrough so that an annular gap is defined between the housing and the radial surface of the crystal rod. A fluid coolant is injected into the annular gap such the annular gap is partially filled with the fluid coolant while the radial surface of the crystal rod is wetted as a thin film all along the axial length thereof.

Abstract: The heat capacity laser concept is extended to systems in which the heat capacity lasing media is a liquid. The laser active liquid is circulated from a reservoir (where the bulk of the media and hence waste heat resides) through a channel so configured for both optical pumping of the media for gain and for light amplification from the resulting gain.

Abstract: A solid state laser module for amplification of laser radiation. The module includes a laser gain medium having a pair of generally parallel surfaces that form a disc-like shape, that receive and transmit laser radiation. At least one perimetral optical medium is disposed adjacent a peripheral edge of the laser gain medium and in optical communication therewith. A source of optical pump radiation directs optical pump radiation into the perimetral optical medium generally normal to the parallel surfaces and the perimetral optical medium transports the optical pump radiation into the laser gain medium to pump the laser gain medium to a laser transition level. Alternative embodiments include arrangements for directing cooling fluids between adjacently disposed laser gain media.

Abstract: A laser package includes a submount, a laser die mounted on the submount, a lid mounted on the submount over the laser die, and a soft metal disposed between the laser die and the lid, wherein the soft metal conducts heat between the laser die and the lid. The soft metal is able to creep or cold flow under pressure to accommodate for varying manufacturing tolerances and varying thermal expansion rates of the elements in the laser package.

Abstract: A beam shaping optical arrangement combines three incoming laser beams that are mutually laterally offset in two orthogonal directions (X and Y), including an incoming first central laser beam and second and third incoming beams laterally offset in the X direction on either side of the central beam, into one outgoing combined laser beam. The arrangement includes two lateral displacement optical units though which the laterally offset incoming beams are transmitted and that laterally displace the two laterally offset incoming beams along the X direction towards the incoming central beam but which do not laterally offset the incoming central beam.

Abstract: Improved temperature stabilization can be obtained for pulsed gas discharge laser systems, such as excimer laser systems, using information about the energy dissipation of the system. Temperature sensors have a limited response time, which can lead to undesirable instability in gas temperature. By determining the heat energy provided to the discharge chamber over sufficiently small periods of time, a system controller can account for rapid variations in the temperature of the laser gas. The temperature regulation controller can adjust a flow of cooling liquid into the discharge chamber to account for these rapid variations on a scale that is much shorter than the response time of the temperature sensors. For variations over longer periods of time, the temperature regulation controller can utilize an active heater in contact with the laser tube to heat the laser tube body, thereby uniformly heating the gas in the tube.

Abstract: The laser diode arrays with removable linear laser diode bars and the methods of removing and replacing linear laser diode bars of the present invention provide easy and immediate removal of individual linear laser diode bars in laser diode arrays. The laser diode array is at least partially made of a plurality of removable linear laser diode bars and a plurality of spacers, such that each removable linear laser diode bar is disposed between a respective pair of spacers. A linear laser diode bar may be slideably removed from between the respective pair of spacers in the laser diode array without breaking any mechanical connection between the removable linear laser diode bar and the respective pair of spacers. A replacement linear laser diode bar may then be slideably inserted between the respective pair of spacers without forming a mechanical connection between the replacement linear laser diode bar and the spacers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature control circuit for a semiconductor light-emitting device, in which scale of the circuit is not enlarged and noise due to the current switching is not generated. In the temperature control circuit of the present invention, although the DC voltage VATC supplied to the Peltier device is generated by the DC-to-DC converting from the external power VCC, the DC voltage VATC is feedback controlled so as to coincide with a target value of the DC voltage that is set based on an error signal generated by detecting a voltage drop of the Peltier device and comparing this drop voltage with a reference voltage. A control signal for setting the temperature of the laser diode to the target temperature through heating up or cooling down the Peltier device by flowing a current corresponding to an error between the target temperature and a practical temperature detected by the thermistor in the Peltier device from the thermoelectric controller current driver.

Abstract: The present invention offers a laser oscillator device having sufficient cooling ability to maintain a lasing medium which generates high-density thermal energy at a temperature appropriate for use, while being capable of being made compact. The laser oscillator device comprises an excitation beam source for generating an excitation beam, a laser medium for receiving the excitation beam and performing optical amplification, a laser oscillator device for causing resonance of light emitted by the laser medium for laser oscillation, and a cooling system for cooling said laser medium, wherein the cooling system uses a gas as the heat-carrying medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to staggered arrays of laser diode bars positioned on stepped support structures. Optical waveguides may direct the outputs of the individual diode bars to a desired location, for example, a common output plane. The optical waveguides may be glass plates in certain embodiments. Waste heat generated by the diode bars may be removed from the support structures at certain locations and as a result, the diode bars may be closely positioned with respect to each other. By closely positioning the laser diode bars and directing the diode bar outputs to a desired orientation, the effective brightness and fluence may be increased for a given output area and operational power compared to the prior art. Associated methods of manufacturing staggered array couplers and producing high-power pump energy are also described.

Abstract: An optical transmission system includes an optical wavelength branching unit that shifts a wavelength transmission band in the short-wavelength or long-wavelength directions based on a branching filter operation temperature, and performs a branching operation on a wavelength-multiplexed signal. A reception transponder performs decoding on an error correction code. An error correction monitoring unit gathers an error correction amount upon which a branching filter temperature control unit sets the branching filter operation temperature. A transmission transponder performs encoding on an error correction code. An optical wavelength combining unit shifts the wavelength transmission band in the opposite direction from the shifting direction based on a combining filter operation temperature, to perform a combining operation on optical signals and output a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal.

Abstract: A light-emitting module according to the present invention contains a Peltier element driver, and a signal processor for controlling the Peltier element driver. The Peltier element driver is mounted on a first substrate, which directly attaches to the inner bottom surface of the housing, while the signal processor is mounted on the other substrate spaced to the first substrate. The first substrate and the other substrate are vertically integrated within the housing. This arrangement enables to encase the Peltier element driver and the signal processor in the housing with effective thermal dissipation.

Abstract: A laser device which may be used as an oscillator or amplifier comprising a chamber having a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises solid-state elements containing active laser ion distributed within the volume. A cooling fluid flows about the solid-state elements and a semiconductor laser diode provides optical pump radiation into the volume of the laser chamber such that laser emission from the device passes through the gain medium and the fluid. The laser device provides the advantages of a solid-state gain medium laser (e.g., diode-pumping, high power density, etc), but enables operation at higher average power and beam quality than would be achievable from a pure solid-state medium.

Abstract: A cooling device for a diode pumped laser slab includes a plurality of stacked sapphire layers that partially absorb stray fluorescent light that is emitted from the laser slab. The layers include a plurality of fluid orifices and fluid channels that define a fluid pathway for a coolant medium. The coolant medium and sapphire layers cooperate to maintain the temperature of the laser slab below a predetermined temperature level.

Abstract: An assembly for providing a concentrated, vertically stacked array of laser beams from a horizontally offset array of electrically serially-connected metallic microchannel heat sinks each bearing a laser diode bar. The heat sinks are mounted on horizontally offset planes of the manifold which has coolant channels serving adjacent heat sinks that are separated from each to increase the electrical resistance of the fluid path between adjacent ones of said heat sinks. Stepped optical deflectors re-arrange the horizontally emitted laser beams into vertical stack.

Abstract: A solid-state laser system includes a solid-state laser having a laser gain medium and at least one pumping diode. The system also includes a thermal management system capable of placing a coolant in thermal communication with the solid-state laser such that the coolant can carry heat away from the solid-state laser. The thermal management system is then capable of rejecting the heat carried away by the coolant to a fluid at an ambient temperature, where the coolant can be at a temperature between 40° C. and 80° C. when the thermal management system rejects the heat. Advantageously, the thermal management system of the present invention can include reject the heat to a fluid comprising, for example, air or water. As such, the thermal management system does not require separate cooling of the fluid carrying the heat away from the coolant.

Abstract: A laser oscillator comprises a discharge tube for exciting laser medium, at least a pair of mirrors disposed along an optical axis of laser light emitted by the laser gas excited inside the discharge tube, a laser gas passage connected with the discharge tube, laser gas circulation means for circulating the laser gas inside the laser gas passage, and heat control means for controlling heat generated in at least one of the mirrors and the laser gas circulation means.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a device is described. The method includes providing a body having a heating/cooling region to which the device is exposed, heating the device with a heating channel provided in the body with one end exposed to the heating/cooling region and cooling the device with cooling channel provided in the body with one end exposed to the heating/cooling region. The heating and cooling channels are provided in the body such that energy propagating in the heating channel is intermingled with gas propagating in the cooling channel and the heating and cooling sources directly impinge upon the device in the heating region.

Abstract: In a semiconductor laser element having a plurality of semiconductor layers formed on a substrate, a groove-form concave portion is formed on the surface of the substrate opposite to the surface having the semiconductor layers. The concave portion is filled with metal having a higher heat conductivity higher than the substrate. The semiconductor laser element achieves improved heat dissipation characteristics and high reliability even under high-output operation.

Abstract: A laser includes a deformable tube holding an electrode assembly that includes conformable spacers. The spacers are deformed by compression of the tube into good surface contact with the electrodes and the tube walls, thereby providing the necessary path for heat removal from the plasma in order to maintain the required operating temperature for adequate performance of the laser.

Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include optical devices, such as lasers and other optical sources, that are packaged, or housed, in a structure employing a high thermal conductivity, low effective thermal mass member, such as a heat pipe. The high thermal conductivity, low effective thermal mass is positioned in sufficiently close proximity to one or more optical sources that heat generated by the sources is conducted away at a desired efficiency to maintain the package within a prescribed temperature range.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser light source device and light source unit according to the present invention include a first plate-like member made of metal, to which a semiconductor laser array is joined along the end portion, a second plate-like member made of metal, in which an inlet opening portion, which introduces cooling fluid, and a cooling fluid draining channel, and a third plate-like member made of metal, which is formed along the area corresponding to the end portion and to which at least one cooling channel is provided through which cooling fluid flows in the longitudinal direction of the semiconductor laser array by communicating the cooling fluid introducing channel and the cooling fluid draining channel. Thus, the sectional area of the channel can be larger than that in the construction of the related art and the processing cost is reduced by comparison with the construction of the related art.

Abstract: In order to improve a laser amplifying system comprising a plate-like solid-state body which has two oppositely located flat sides and comprises a laser-active medium, a cooling member with a support surface which is arranged so as to face one of the flat sides of the solid-state body and with which this flat side is thermally coupled for the discharge of heat, in such a manner that an optimum coupling takes place it is suggested that the flat side of the solid-state body be coupled mechanically and thermally to the support surface by an adhesive layer which is produced from an adhesive which passes from a liquid state into a solid, cross-linked state essentially invariant in volume and that the adhesive layer have an active adhesive layer area with a heat resistance of less than 10 K×mm2/W.

Abstract: An optical transmitter includes a laser driver capable of receiving data and applying the data to drive a laser diode over a transmission line having first and second ends. The first end of the transmission line is coupled to an output of the laser driver. A first terminal of an amplifier is coupled to the second end of the transmission line. A second terminal of the amplifier is coupled to the laser diode. The signal amplitude applied at the first terminal controls optical output amplitude of the laser diode.

Abstract: A laser device which may be used as an oscillator or amplifier comprising a chamber having a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises solid-state elements containing active laser ion distributed within the volume. A cooling fluid flows about the solid-state elements and a semiconductor laser diode provides optical pump radiation into the volume of the laser chamber such that laser emission from the device passes through the gain medium and the fluid. The laser device provides the advantages of a solid-state gain medium laser (e.g., diode-pumping, high power density, etc), but enables operation at higher average power and beam quality than would be achievable from a pure solid-state medium.

Abstract: A smaller and higher performance optical transmitter module is provided, which can improve the reliability and which can be manufactured at lower costs and allow for stable laser transmission of an optical semiconductor element. The optical transmitter module which has an optical semiconductor element, an optical fiber optically coupled to the optical semiconductor element, an inline optical isolator provided for the optical fiber, and a package case containing the optical semiconductor element and the optical fiber, includes a substrate member with one end of the optical fiber on the light incident side fixed thereon to be optically coupled to the optical semiconductor element, a thermoelectric cooler with the substrate member joined to the top surface thereof, and a pipe-like support member projecting from the side face of the package case for fixing the optical isolator.

Abstract: A cooling device for laser diodes comprising a stem which comprises a 2 mm thick Cu substrate having thereon an array of grooves extending to the resonator length of a laser diode device with a width of 50 ?m and a depth of 300 ?m and a 100 ?m thick Cu cover plate for hermetically sealing the grooved surface by, e.g. soldering. The groove contains a working fluid of deionized water filled under reduced pressure, forming a heat pipe. A plurality of heat pipes is created to form a heat pipe array. Forty GaN laser diode devices each having five light-emitting areas, each of which has an optical power of 100 mW, are mounted with junction-down on the upper surface of cover plate, forming a bar laser with a total output of approximately 20 W.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser stack apparatus 1 comprises three semiconductor lasers 2a to 2c, two copper plates 3a and 3b, two lead plates 4a and 4b, a supply tube 5, a discharge tube 6, four insulating members 7a to 7d, and three heat sinks 10a to 10c. Here, the heat sink 10a to 10c is formed by a lower planar member 12 formed with a supply water path groove portion 22, an intermediate planar member 14 formed with a plurality of water guiding holes 38, and an upper planar member 16 formed with a discharge water path groove portion 30 which are successively stacked one upon another, whereas their contact surfaces are joined together. The heat sink 10a to 10c is provided with pillar pieces 24 for connecting the bottom face of supply water path groove portion 22 and the lower face of intermediate planar member 14 to each other, and pillar pieces 32 for connecting the bottom face of discharge water path groove portion 30 and the upper face of intermediate planar member 14 to each other.

Abstract: The inventive module of a light-pumped laser comprises light pump sources, a solid-state active element which is embodied in the form of a plate and provided with a couple of first opposite side faces, the distance therebetween defining the width of the active element for passing a pump radiation therethrough from the pump sources to the active element; a couple of second opposite side faces. The distance therebetween defining the thickness of the active element. which faces are embodied in the plane-parallel manner in order to direct a beam of formed laser radiation in such a way that it enables said beam to pass along the length of the active element in a zigzag manner, undergoing a total internal reflection from the couple of second side faces; a couple of end faces, the distance therebetween defining the length of the active element, and also heal-spreading devices which have a thermal contact with each second face in order So remove beat from the active element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving a near diffraction-limited, high-average power output from a solid-state laser oscillator are provided. The solid-state laser uses multiple disk-shaped laser gain media having a large optical aperture placed in an unstable resonator. The laser gain media is provided with optical coatings for operation in the active mirror configuration and is attached to a rigid, cooled substrate, which allows it to maintain a prescribed shape even when experiencing significant thermal load. The resonator is configured so as to preferentially support low order optical modes with transverse dimensions sufficiently large to efficiently fill the gain media apertures. Resonator configurations capable of producing standing wave or traveling wave optical fields are disclosed. The resonator may include means for intracavity correction of an optical phase front by adaptive optics.