Abstract: A laser assembly includes a lasing medium (12), associated reflector components (14, 16) defining a resonance cavity, and means (16) for outputting laser pulses therefrom. Means (18) is provided to pump the lasing medium with pulses of predetermined energy. There is a pumping circuit (20) for activating the pump means, and control means (22, 34, 35) associated with said pumping circuit for determining the energy of the pumping pulses.

Abstract: A laser beam processing apparatus includes a body providing a generally cylindrical bounding structure for a cavity. A window allows admission of an incident light beam into the cavity and emission of a laser beam from the cavity. A plurality of reflectors are arranged to sequentially reflect the light beam and/or light generated thereby along a light path which is generally polygonal as viewed from an end of the cavity. Laser material is disposed in the light path whereby the light generated by the light beam includes light which is derived by stimulated emission from the laser material.