Abstract: The invention relates to a resonator system with at least two folding elements for folding the beam path. Said folding elements serve to restrict the divergence angle of the radiation. The inventive resonator system is further characterized in that the respective folding is caused by reflection on a reflecting surface of the respective folding element. The beam axis of the radiation and the surface normal of the respective reflecting area are positioned at an angle relative to each other that is greater than the critical angle for the total reflection but smaller than the sum of the critical angle for the total reflection plus the divergence angle of the radiation.

Abstract: An optical amplifier arrangement, including an amplifying medium, which exhibits an approximately rectangular cross section with a long edge and a short edge, as well as at least two highly reflecting mirrors, between which the amplifying medium is disposed, whereby the long or the short edge of the cross section is along the X axis or the Y axis; the Z axis is the optical axis; and the X, Y and Z axis form a rectangular coordinate system. The mirrors are designed and arranged in such a manner that one beam, which is to be amplified and beamed in by an oscillator, passes repeatedly through the amplifying medium in the XZ plane and is amplified; and the size of the beam to be amplified in the X direction becomes larger after each passage.

Abstract: In apparatus for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing at least two electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths &lgr;1, &lgr;2, the improvement comprising at least one polarizing element wherein, the waves enter into said element in a linearly polarized manner.

Abstract: A method for processing moving workpieces with laser radiation that is focused on a to-be-processed workpiece surface by means of a laser beam that is moved but not relative to the workpiece. The laser beam is focused in a line-like manner and its beam spot corresponds practically exclusively and with full a real coverage to the work piece surface to be processed.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for geometrically shaping a radiation field, in particular the radiation field of a diode laser array which propagates in the z direction and has a radiation cross section which is larger, in a direction defined as the y direction, which is perpendicular to the first, and has a lower radiation quality in said direction. X, y and z form a Cartesian coordinate system. The radiation is grouped into radiation fractions in the x direction and the radiation fractions are reoriented as regards their radiation cross sections. The arrangement has at least two reflective elements (6) and is characterized in that each reflective element has a pair of reflection surfaces (7,8) at approximately or exactly 90° to each other. This opening angle (9) is oriented against the direction of propagation. The line (10) at which the reflection surfaces intersect is oriented at approximately below 45° to the x direction.

Abstract: A process and device for forming and guiding the radiation field or one or several solid and/or semiconductor lasers, in particular the radiation field of an array or field arrangement of one or several solid and/or semiconductor lasers, comprise radiation transformation optics with refractive elements that generate a defined radiation field. The device is characterized in that the radiation field (4) is subdivided into at least two radiation fractions according to predetermined data. Each radiation fraction enters an associated refractive element (6, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24) with predetermined co-ordinates. Each refractive element (6, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24) refracts the corresponding radiation fraction on at least one of its surfaces (7) so that the radiation fractions leave the refractive elements (6, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24) with output co-ordinates and/or propagation directions modified in relation to each other.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for shaping the geometrical cross-sion of a radiation field of a plurality of solid and/or semiconductor laser, in particular a plurality of diode laser arrays or field arrangements whose beam-outlet openings extend in a direction lying in the x-y plane and whose ray beam is radiated in the z direction, the x, y and z directions establishing a rectangular co-ordinate system, with an optical structure for generating a defined cross-section for a radiation field. The optical structure comprises reflective elements onto which the radiation of the respective lasers or laser field arrangements is guided and at which the radiation is reflected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and device for forming and guig the radiation field of one or several solid and/or semiconductor lasers.

Abstract: An arrangement in which a reflection lens system shapes and guides beams from a rectilinear laser diode array with beam outlet surfaces lying in a common plane is disclosed In order to map the beams from the individual laser diodes to form a substantially uniform radiation field or pattern using such an arrangement, at least one first reflection component having a reflection surface is associated with each beam in order to bring together the individual outlet beams. The reflection surfaces are disposed in mutually offset planes, the offset corresponding sequentially to the sequence of the laser diodes in the array.

Abstract: A waveguide is arranged in radial extension on a support mounted in rotary manner and whose pivot pin is parallel to the laser beam axis. The outer end thereof intersects the laser beam during a rotation of the support and in each case detects a partial beam of the laser radiation. By means of the waveguide, said partial beam is supplied to a detector, which is arranged in fixed manner in the pivot pin of the support. A hollow waveguide or light guide serves as the waveguide. A parallel displacement of the pivot pin of the support is possible by means of a stepping motor to enable the complete beam profile to be determined by a plurality of sections through the laser beam. In place of the stepping motor, the support can be provided with several waveguides of different lengths, distributed with the same angular spacing over the support circumference and which successively supply the detected partial beams to the same detector.

Abstract: Laser resonator, particularly for carbon dioxide lasers, with two resonator nd mirrors having active material between two fully reflecting end mirror faces, which form an unstable resonator cavity, and with at least one third, completely reflecting mirror face reflecting the laser radiation prior to its coupling out through a coupling-out opening of the resonator. So that the laser only requires a reduced degree of coupling out and/or has an improved beam quality, it is constructed in such a way that, in addition to the unstable resonator cavity, between the two end mirrors is provided at least one stable resonator cavity and that the stable resonator cavity is made from the same active material of the third mirror face as the face of one of the two end mirrors with the face of the other end mirror.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the radiation power of lasers, particularly infrared lasers, with a thermal detector, which supplies a power-caused measurement signal.In order to be able to measure rapid laser radiation power changes, the apparatus is so constructed that there is a device which locally integrates the laser radiation and to which, apart from the thermal detector, is connected at least one further detector, which is able to detect radiation power changes with a larger band width than the band width detectable by the thermal detector and that there is a circuit combining the measurement signals of the detectors.

Abstract: Aerodynamic window for a gas laser, whose active chamber emits a focussed ser beam and is flow connected by means of a beam passage opening with a window chamber connected to a vacuum pump and which has a beam exit opening in an outer area which is preferably under atmospheric pressure. In order to reduce the pumping power necessary for the aerodynamic window and improve the laser beam quality, the window is so constructed that the laser beam emitted by the active chamber has a first focus in the vicinity of the beam passage opening and is deflected onto a focussing mirror arranged in the window chamber and which gives the laser beam leaving the latter a second focus located in the vicinity of the beam exit opening.

Abstract: A laser has a beam path multiply folded by two resonator end mirrors and at east one reflector retroreflectively folding the laser beam. The laser axis is parallel displaced to the axis of a further reflector. In order to improve the laser beam quality while retaining its comparatively low adjustment sensitivity, the beam path is folded at least twice with the retroreflective reflector.

Abstract: Gas laser, particularly carbon dioxide laser, with a component-free gas dharge chamber between high voltage electrodes, with a beam of two resonator end mirrors multiply folded between facing reflectors and with openings of the outwardly sealed gas discharge chamber permitting the inflow and outflow of gas. A gas laser with the aforementioned features is so constructed for the purpose of increasing its efficiency, that there is a continuous gas flow in the gas discharge chamber and that the gas flow direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the component-free gas discharge chamber located between the reflectors.

Abstract: In machining a workpiece, maximal absorption of laser irradiation in the workpiece is achieved by a minimal interference by optical back-coupling and plasma effects is achieved by continuously determining the actual value of the laser irradiation and continuously sensing stochastic processes taking place in the machining zone and in response to such measuring and sensing, controlling the modulation of laser irradiation.

Abstract: A fast axial flow gas transport laser has a discharge tube. The discharge tube has at least one sudden discontinuous enlargement of the cross section of the discharge tube.