Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and apparatuses which advantageously stabilize beam parameters and elongate crystal lifetime. In one aspect, a UV laser apparatus includes a non-linear crystal, a laser source, a beam-crystal displacer, a beam parameter monitor, and a laser control unit. The laser source directs a source beam to the non-linear crystal to produce a UV beam and the beam-crystal displacer shifts the non-linear crystal relative to the source beam at a plurality of shift speeds. The beam parameter monitor measures the UV beam and outputs a measurement of a beam parameter. The laser control unit: receives the measurement; determines, based on the measurement, an adjustment in shift speed that steers the beam parameter toward a target value; and outputs the adjustment to the beam-crystal displacer.

Abstract: In a shifting algorithm for an optically nonlinear crystal arranged to frequency-convert beam of radiation, the location of one or more defects in the crystal is recorded as an exclusion zone. The location of the beam is stepped incrementally over a surface around a closed or open loop path in increments less than a beam dimension. The path is arranged such that the beam does not enter the exclusion zone.

Abstract: A method of operating a digitally modulated solid state laser is disclosed. The laser is optically pumped by a current-supply driven diode-laser radiation and with output-power stabilized at a desired value by a light regulator cooperative with a power monitor and the current source is disclosed. When the laser is turned on, the current-source is enabled and the light-regulator is disabled. A current regulator allows current from the current-supply to increase until the monitored power reaches the desired value. At this point, the light regulator is enabled and the light regulator assumes control of the current-supply for maintaining the output-power at the desired level.

Abstract: In a shifting algorithm for an optically nonlinear crystal arranged to frequency-convert beam of radiation, the location of one or more defects in the crystal is recorded as an exclusion zone. The location of the beam is stepped incrementally over a surface around a closed or open loop path in increments less than a beam dimension. The path is arranged such that the beam does not enter the exclusion zone.

Abstract: A method of operating a digitally modulated solid state laser is disclosed. The laser is optically pumped by a current-supply driven diode-laser radiation and with output-power stabilized at a desired value by a light regulator cooperative with a power monitor and the current source is disclosed. When the laser is turned on, the current-source is enabled and the light-regulator is disabled. A current regulator allows current from the current-supply to increase until the monitored power reaches the desired value. At this point, the light regulator is enabled and the light regulator assumes control of the current-supply for maintaining the output-power at the desired level.

Abstract: A pulsed, solid laser having a solid-state gain-medium and Q-switch is optically-pumped by a diode-laser array controlled to deliver pump-light pulses to the gain-medium. The Q-switch and the diode-laser array are cooperatively controlled by a controller such that laser output-pulses produced in response to pump-light pulses have the same energy independent of the time-interval between laser output-pulses. Pump-light pulses may be provided by the controller operating a switchable current supply which supplies current-pulses to the diode-laser array for causing pump-light pulses to be delivered to the gain-medium. A controller may also be arranged to drive the diode-laser to provide continuous pump-light output and to operate a light modulator located between the diode-laser array and the gain-medium to cause pump-light pulses to be delivered to the gain medium.

Abstract: A pulsed-laser includes a pump-light source, a gain-medium and a Q-switch. The Q-switch has an on-mode in which it is substantially transparent, and an off-mode in which it is normally substantially opaque. A gate-signal switches the laser between a ready-mode in which no pulses are delivered and a pulse-drive mode in which pulses are delivered. A first-pulse controller is provided for controlling the energy in the first of a series of pulses to be delivered by the laser. The first-pulse controller controls the first pulse energy by operating one or more of the Q-switch and the pump-light source in such a way that after switching from the ready-mode to the pulse drive mode the energy in the gain-medium at the instant of triggering the first pulse in the series of pulses is about the same that which will be reached in the gain-medium prior to triggering of subsequent pulses in the series. In this way, all pulses in the series have the about the same energy.