Abstract: A laser device in accordance with the present invention includes an enclosure that defines a pump cavity with a decreasing taper, from a maximum width at an input end to a minimum width at an output end of the cavity. A laser slab is positioned within the pump cavity by inserting the laser slab into a longitudinal slot that extends along the length of the enclosure. The longitudinal slot is in fluid communication with the pump cavity and the laser slab extends upwardly into the pump cavity once positioned therein. The internal opposing walls of the cavity are preferably gold-plated. Laser pump light is provided from the input end of the device. A portion of the input laser pump is received in the end of the laser slab. Other portions of the input pump light are received in the pump cavity, where they are reflected off the internal walls of the enclosure and into the sides of the laser slab, where they are converted into laser output.

Abstract: An improvement in a single-shot laser rangefinder having a photo-detector for detecting return laser pulse signals, a signal amplifier for amplifying the return laser pulse signals, and a range processor for determining the range of a reflecting object from the round trip time of flight of the return laser pulse signals. The difference in time at which the strongest laser pulse signal crosses the threshold for detection and the weakest laser pulse signal crosses the threshold for detection causes a timing error in the measured range.

Abstract: An optical scanning holography system which requires only a two dimensional scan to record three dimensional information from a fluorescent specimen wherein the optical scanning holography is based on scanning the specimen with a Fresnel zone pattern and detecting and decoding the fluorescent light reflected from the specimen. The flourescent light reflected from the specimen contains three dimensional information about the specimen so that once the fluorescent light is detected and decoded a three dimensional image of the specimen can be obtained and displayed using only the two dimensional scan.