Abstract: A method for forming a carbon-metal composite material for a heat sink, comprising the following steps: applying at least one layer comprising carbon particles and at least one layer comprising metal particles on top of one another; and fusing of the layers by irradiating the layers with laser radiation to form the carbon-metal composite material. The invention also relates to a heat sink having a shaped body that comprises a plurality of layers, each layer containing carbon particles in a metal matrix.

Abstract: Methods and devices for expanding a laser beam are provided. In one aspect, a device includes a telescope arrangement having two spherical folding mirrors for expanding an incident collimated laser beam with a lens arranged in the divergent beam path downstream of the telescopic arrangement. The two spherical folding mirrors in the beam path are a first, convex-curved spherical folding mirror and a second, concave-curved spherical folding mirror, respectively. The lens has a spherical lens face for collimating the expanded laser beam from the telescope arrangement. The laser beam can be an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam.

Abstract: A laser disk module includes a lasing element including an active gain medium, the lasing element including opposite top and bottom end surfaces, and a heat transfer element adjacent the bottom end surface, the heat transfer element including a ceramic material that defines a plurality of cooling structures. The heat transfer element is configured to transfer heat generated in the lasing element to a coolant in contact with the heat transfer element in the plurality of cooling structures during operation of the laser disk module.

Abstract: A laser disk module includes a lasing element including an active gain medium, the lasing element including opposite top and bottom end surfaces, and a heat transfer element adjacent the bottom end surface, the heat transfer element including a ceramic material that defines a plurality of cooling structures. The heat transfer element is configured to transfer heat generated in the lasing element to a coolant in contact with the heat transfer element in the plurality of cooling structures during operation of the laser disk module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for expanding a laser beam, in particular a UV laser beam, comprising: a telescope arrangement having two spherical folding mirrors for expanding the incident collimated laser beam and a lens which is arranged in the divergent beam path downstream of the telescope arrangement and which has a spherical lens face for collimating the expanded laser beam, the first folding mirror in the beam path being a convex-curved spherical folding mirror and the second folding mirror in the beam path being a concave-curved spherical folding mirror. The invention also relates to an associated method for expanding a laser beam.

Abstract: A method for forming a carbon-metal composite material for a heat sink, comprising the following steps: applying at least one layer comprising carbon particles and at least one layer comprising metal particles on top of one another; and fusing of the layers by irradiating the layers with laser radiation to form the carbon-metal composite material. The invention also relates to a heat sink having a shaped body that comprises a plurality of layers, each layer containing carbon particles in a metal matrix.

Abstract: A diode laser apparatus includes a plurality of laser bars, each laser bar having an emission direction and a beam path. The laser bars are disposed along an arc, the emission directions of the laser bars are directed toward an inside of the arc, and a slow-axis direction of each laser bar is oriented along the arc.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically pumping a laser-active solid body with pumping light coupled into the solid body through an end surface of the solid body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser-active solid body including an end surface though which pumping light is coupled into the solid body and a lateral surface through which pumping light exits the solid body, a reflector surrounding the laser-active solid body at a distance from the lateral surface of the solid body for reflecting light that exists the solid body back towards the solid body, and a surface for diffusing light that is coupled into the solid body through the end surface of the solid body and that exits the solid body through the lateral surface. The surface is selected from the group consisting of the lateral surface and a surface of the reflector.

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: A diode laser apparatus includes a plurality of laser bars, each laser bar having an emission direction and a beam path. The laser bars are disposed along an arc, the emission directions of the laser bars are directed toward an inside of the arc, and a slow-axis direction of each laser bar is oriented along the arc.

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: An apparatus for optically pumping a laser-active solid body with pumping light coupled into the solid body through an end surface of the solid body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser-active solid body including an end surface though which pumping light is coupled into the solid body and a lateral surface through which pumping light exits the solid body, a reflector surrounding the laser-active solid body at a distance from the lateral surface of the solid body for reflecting light that exists the solid body back towards the solid body, and a surface for diffusing light that is coupled into the solid body through the end surface of the solid body and that exits the solid body through the lateral surface. The surface is selected from the group consisting of the lateral surface and a surface of the reflector.

Abstract: To improve a diode laser device comprising at least one laser diode, a power supply for the laser diode, a cooling device including a heat sink with the laser diode disposed thereon, and a coolant supply allowing a coolant to flow through the heat sink, so that simple monitoring of its operation is possible without interfering with use of the diode laser device, it is proposed that an operation monitoring device be provided, and that the operation monitoring device detect a quantity representing the electric current flowing through the laser diode and a quantity representing the temperature of the coolant exiting from the heat sink and determine from these an operational quantity representing operation of the diode laser device.

Abstract: To improve a diode laser device comprising at least one laser diode, a power supply for the laser diode, a cooling device including a heat sink with the laser diode disposed thereon, and a coolant supply allowing a coolant to flow through the heat sink, so that simple monitoring of its operation is possible without interfering with use of the diode laser device, it is proposed that an operation monitoring device be provided, and that the operation monitoring device detect a quantity representing the electric current flowing through the laser diode and a quantity representing the temperature of the coolant exiting from the heat sink and determine from these an operational quantity representing operation of the diode laser device.