Abstract: A passive eight-pass solid-state laser amplifier is constructed using a quarter-wave plate (11), a total reflection mirror (12), a polarization beam splitter (5), and a total reflection mirror (6) while input/output faces of a hexagonal zigzag slab solid-state laser medium (15) optically pumped are kept nearly perpendicular to pulsed laser light. Thermal birefringence takes place in the laser medium (15) optically pumped with good symmetry by flash lamps or LDs (9) and is compensated for by a quartz 90.degree. rotator (10). Linearly s-polarized laser light reflected by a polarization beam splitter (3) is output as pulsed laser output light (13) to the outside. Owing to this, saturation laser amplification can be achieved using output laser light from a pulsed laser oscillator of relatively low output, as source light.

Abstract: A sample is placed between a circular polarizer and an analyzer in an optical path between a monochromatic light source and a two-dimensional optical receiver. Parallel beams emitted from the monochromatic light source are converted into circularly polarized light by the circular polarizer. After transmitting the sample, the light is guided to the analyzer. While rotating the analyzer about the axis of the beams, image data are detected by optical receiver at a step of a regular rotation angle, and the detected image data are sampled to be sent to an image processing device in the next stage. On the basis of the image data, an operation is conducted on each pixel to obtain a relative phase difference due to birefringence of the sample, the two-dimensional birefringence distribution including the sign of the relative phase difference, and also the principal axis direction.

Abstract: In a laser plasma X-ray device for use in generating X-rays by bombarding a target material by a pulsed laser beam, the target material is selected from materials which are in a gas phase at the room temperature and which are cooled in a selected one of liquid and solid phases. Such a selected phase of the target material is continuously supplied to a focal point of the pulsed laser beam to be subjected to bombardment and to generate the X-rays. On generation of the X-rays, the target material is rendered into the gas phase to be recycled into the selected phase. The X-rays are guided outside of the chamber through an X-ray gate unit opened in synchronism with a repetition frequency of the pulsed laser beam.

Abstract: A solution of material for the desired crystal is filled in a growth tank having two ion-exchange membranes which define a crystal growth vessel between them and two side vessels on opposite sides of the crystal growth vessel, and the growth tank is placed in an outer tank while filling a fluid therebetween. During electrodialysis in the growth tank, the crystal growth vessel solution temperature T.sub.c, the side vessel solution temperature T.sub.o, and the fluid temperature T.sub.w between the tanks are controlled so as to keep the conditions of T.sub.o >T.sub.c >T.sub.w.

Abstract: A glass laser amplifier having a number of trigger members comprising a number of flash lamps capable of emitting light to pump a laser glass arranged around said laser glass, a number of reflection mirrors for reflecting light from each of said flash lamps against said laser glass, and a number of trigger members each arranged at a side of a flash lamp opposite the reflection mirror with the flash lamp being held therebetween. Deflection of electric current in the flash lamp by the reflection mirrors is eliminated, and local heating of the inner wall of the flash lamp is prevented by the efficient elimination of the current deflection, resulting in an extensive life of the entire assembly.