Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the thermal performance of a slab laser pump cavity is provided. Absorbing regions placed on either side of an active lasing region through which the active region is pumped provides uniform heat dissipation across the width of the slab thereby providing one-dimensional heat flow perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the lasing medium and maintaining uniform lensing and birefringence. Foreshortened cold plates in thermal communication with the active lasing region also provide improved thermal performance by providing uniform one-dimensional heat flow perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the lasing slab. In addition, a compliant thermal interface of variable thickness is provided to also improve the distribution of heat flow. Further, cooling channels located within the cold plates are located to achieve uniform one-dimensional heat flow.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an apparatus for pumping a laser (vibronic or otherwise), which comprises: a transition-metal ion-containing solid state laser gain medium; a means for exciting said laser medium to emit coherent radiation said exciting means being a pumping source comprising at least one laser diode operating at a wavelength shorter than 800 nm; and an optical resonator means for generating and controlling said coherent radiation.The present invention also encompasses a method of pumping a laser (vibronic or otherwise) comprising the steps of: generating a laser diode pumping beam at a wavelength shorter than 800 nm; exciting a transition-metal ion-containing solid state laser gain medium by impinging said laser diode pumping beam on said transition-metal ion-containing solid state laser gain medium, so as to excite the laser medium; and an optical resonator to emit coherent radiation.

Abstract: A laser diode package (1) couples laser diode outputs into a plurality of fibers (21), and these are bundled and brought to an output face (2') that produces a divergent composite beam from the fiber ends (21'). The beam end pumps a solid state laser (100) across a gap (6), and the divergence allows a wide tolerance in alignment of the pump and crystal (3). Preferably, one cavity mirror (7) is a focusing mirror that reconcentrates residual pump light in the desired mode. In a preferred embodiment, the output face of the package is at a short stub (2) or ferrule that provides a simple and effective pump beam centering alignment. The solid state laser (100) may be a rod or crystal (3) and is preferably sufficiently short, in relation to pump beam diameter and divergence in the rod, that the pump beam within the rod lies in the TEM.sub.OO mode volume of the laser cavity. A concave mirror then refocuses residual pump light back into that mode.

Abstract: A laser or laser amplifier apparatus has a diode pump source producing a polarized pump beam. A laser head includes a gain medium that produces an output beam. One or more optical fibers are coupled to the diode pump source and deliver the pump beam to the laser head. A depolarization device is coupled to the diode pump source, laser head or optical fiber and produces an depolarized pump beam. By depolarizing the output beam, movement, including rotation, of the pump source does not comprise the output beam produced from the laser head.

Abstract: A microlaser having input and output mirrors defining a microlaser cavity, a solid active dielectric medium disposed in the microlaser cavity, and a pumping mechanism which pumps the microlaser and which includes at least one vertical cavity semiconductor laser. The microlaser may also include a microoptical focusing device, passive and/or active cavity switches. A plurality of such microlasers can be assembled to form a bidimensional network.

Abstract: An active layer of a semiconductor laser element held by a laser mount is formed to be closer to the bottom than to the center of the height of the semiconductor laser element. A laser beam emitted from the active layer passes through a collective lens and an optical isolator and enters an incidence portion of an optical fiber. Returning light reflected by the incidence portion of the optical fiber passes through the optical isolator and the collective lens and is collected onto an end face of the laser mount. The optical isolator includes first and second rutiles which transmit normal light with refraction and abnormal light without refraction, a Faraday element which rotates a polarization plane of transmitted light in the clockwise direction by 45 degrees, and a permanent magnet for applying a magnetic field to the Faraday element.

Abstract: A laser beam emission apparatus that may be used as a universal optical pickup laser light source. The apparatus may be used in various applications including recording/reproduction of data to/from various types of optical disks in various recording/reproducing modes. The apparatus includes a first semiconductor laser chip that emits a first laser beam at a first wavelength, and a second semiconductor laser chip that emits a second laser beam at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. The emitted second laser beam has a plane of polarization that is perpendicular to the plane of polarization of the emitted first laser beam. The apparatus further includes a polarized beam splitter that transmits one of the laser beams and reflects the other laser beam, and a semiconductor substrate that has the laser chips and the polarized beam splitter mounted thereon.

Abstract: A laser pump cavity apparatus with integral concentrator provides improved thermal lensing control, cooling and fracture strength. The concentrator is formed around a doped solid-state laser medium by diffusion bonding, using a material different than the doped laser medium and with a substantially lower index of refraction, higher thermal conductivity and higher stress fracture strength than the doped laser crystal. The concentrator has a top cladding layer with a cylindrical focusing surface and a bottom cladding layer with a cylindrical focusing surface and may have edge cladding layers. Cold plates, each of which also has one cylindrical surface, are placed in thermal contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the top and bottom cladding layers. The cylindrical surfaces preferably have hyperbolic or quasi-hyperbolic shape. The laser pump cavity apparatus is preferably pumped with several laser diode arrays in directions transverse to a laser beam axis.

Abstract: A butt-coupling pumped single-mode solid-state laser is provided for generating a laser of single-transverse and single-longitudinal mode. The butt-coupling pumped single-mode solid-state laser includes: (1) a laser diode having an output facet for producing a pumping light; (2) a laser crystal immediately connected to the output facet of the laser diode with a specific length therebetween for generating an excited light at a fundamental wavelength in response to the pumping light; and (3) a mirror disposed away from the laser crystal with a specific distance for emanating a laser output.

Abstract: Hybrid inorganic light emitting device/luminescent polymer light-emitting sources for efficient and cost effective white lighting and for full-color applications and their manufacture are disclosed. The hybrid light sources include an inorganic light-emitting source such as a p-n junction diode-containing device capable of emitting a first emitted output of light and a photoluminescent polymer element positioned in the first emitted output of light, the polymer being selected to be capable of being pumped by a first portion of the first emitted output of light and when so pumped of emitting a second emitted output of light which is emitted from the device with that portion of the first emitted output remaining beyond the first portion.

Abstract: A compact diode pumped laser including a nonuniform, single-or double-sided diode pumped laser head and a polarization output coupled (POC) resonator. The POC resonator employs reflections from two opposing uncrossed roof prism mirrors to produce a uniform near field and far field beam with diffraction or near diffraction limited quality. The single laser head particularly includes a laser rod, a sapphire envelope located about the rod, an area of antireflection coating located on the sapphire envelope between the rod and the diode array, and a high reflectivity nickel-plated indium layer located on the sapphire envelope on the surface thereof outside of the area of antireflection coating.

Abstract: Multiple element laser diode assembly incorporating a cylindrical microlens and at least one of an astigmatism correcting element and a collimating element. The use of a single purpose cylindrical microlens, for instance for circularizing a beam of laser light output from said diode, in operative combination with at least one additional optical element for correcting astigmatism and for collimating the beam enables the passive mounting of the several optical elements of the assembly without an active alignment step. The cylindrical microlens may incorporate as single powered surface, as may the astigmatism correction element. Alternatively, the astigmatism correction element may comprise a tilted optical plate. The collimating lens may be a spherical lens.

Abstract: There is provided an optically pumped laser apparatus 10 which includes a heat conductive assembly 14 which is affixed to a solidstate yag laser crystal medium for generating a laser beam 49 within the laser crystal medium 12. The heat conductive assembly 14 comprises a heat diffusing element 32 which serves to diffuse the heat that is generated through the cooling surfaces 24 and 26. It includes a heat discharging structure 33 for removing the heat from the system. The efficiency of the laser system is improved by the geometry of pumping the crystal laser medium along the paths shown by the arrow 40 and to directing heat removed by the heat conductive assembly along the arrows 42, which paths are normal to one another and which provide an effective geometry that minimizes temperature variations within the laser crystal 12 to provide a low value for the OPD of the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving improved performance in a solid state laser is provided. A flanged, at least partially undoped end-cap is attached to at least one end of a laserable medium. Preferably flanged, undoped end-caps are attached to both ends of the laserable medium. Due to the low scatter requirements for the interface between the end-caps and the laser rod, a non-adhesive method of bonding is utilized such as optical contacting combined with a subsequent heat treatment of the optically contacted composite. The non-bonded end surfaces of the flanged end-caps are coated with laser cavity coatings appropriate for the lasing wavelength of the laser rod. A cooling jacket, sealably coupled to the flanged end-caps, surrounds the entire length of the laserable medium. Radiation from a pump source is focussed by a lens duct and passed through at least one flanged end-cap into the laser rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for an infrared light emitter comprising a semiconductor element (12) able to emit infrared radiation and a switched microlaser (2, 4, 6, 8) arranged so as to be able to optically pump the semiconductor element.

Abstract: The laser beam generating apparatus (light source apparatus) comprising a laser oscillator structured as a ring resonator is provided with a plurality of excitation light sources and a plurality of solid state laser active media excited by these excitation light sources respectively, and these solid state laser active media are disposed separately each other on the optical path in the ring resonator. A high power laser beam is obtained stably and efficiently.

Abstract: An optical fiber amplifier having a doped fiber, through which an input signal propagates, is bi-directionally pumped in a manner that provides for a desired composite absorption profile such as, in one case, a uniform degree of local pump energy absorbed along at least a substantial length of the fiber. Co-propagating and a counter-propagating pump sources are prescribed to have their wavelengths selected relative to the peak absorption wavelength of the amplifier to provide for a uniform composite absorption profile across the length of the fiber thereby improving the overall inversion efficiency of the amplifier as well as providing for reduced amplifier noise figure.

Abstract: A laser diode pumped laser has a laser diode wavelength sensing and control apparatus. A laser medium is mounted in a laser cavity and has a laser diode pump having a laser diode or laser diode array having an output of a predetermined wavelength for exciting the laser medium. An optical radiation detector is coupled to the output of the laser medium to receive and measure the radiation from the laser diode transmitted through the laser medium and a detector bias and signal measurement circuit is coupled to the optical radiation detector to receive signals therefrom and generate an output signal responsive to the optical radiation detector signals and to apply the generated signals to the laser diode power supply (or to diode heaters) to vary the power supply output to vary the laser diode wavelength to maintain the laser diode wavelength at the absorption peak of the laser medium.

Abstract: A system and a method of designing and mechanical packaging of pumped laser resonator elements to minimize their size. All the elements of the compact pumped laser resonator assembly are placed on a monolithic block mount, which substitutes and functions as a laser diode heatsink, a laser resonator cavity mount, and an optical bench. The laser optical cavity has a plurality of bends, in order to decrease the size of the assembly, and the laser resonator optical elements include fold prisms, a reflector, a retroreflector and an intracavity optical Q-switch. A miniaturized diode array pumped laser resonator assembly using a miniature monolithic block mount may have a volume of less than one cubic inch and dimensions less than or equal to about 30 mm.times.25 mm.times.13 mm in metric units, and may weigh less than two ounces or 56 g, while providing a laser power of more than 1 mJ, thereby creating a very small but highly powerful pumped laser resonator assembly.

Abstract: A diode pumped laser includes a resonator mirror and an output coupler, defining a laser resonator with a resonator optical axis. A strong thermal lens gain medium with a TEM.sub.00 mode diameter is mounted in the resonator along the resonator optical axis. The dopant level of the gain medium is in the range of 0.01 to less than 0.5 percent. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the gain medium in the laser resonator, and produces an output beam with a diameter larger than the TEM.sub.00 mode diameter to reduce thermal birefringence. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source. A polarizing element can be positioned in the resonator, along with a aperture stop The laser operates well over a large range of pump powers. Its slope efficiency in the TEM.sub.00 mode is greater than 40%, with an overall efficiency greater than 25%. One of the gain mediums used is Nd:YVO.sub.4. This material exhibits high gain and a short upper state lifetime.

Abstract: To inexpensively and in a simple configuration provide a solid laser amplifier and a solid laser unit capable of generating a high output and high quality laser beam, the unit includes a solid laser medium 5A containing active solid media; a flow tube 14 or the like allowing a cooling medium 24 for cooling the solid laser medium 5A; and a laser array 12 so controlled in temperature as to emit an excitation light 9 for exciting the solid laser medium 5A, the wavelength of which lies within the absorption spectra of a solid laser medium 5A yet does not coincide with that of the absorption spectrum peak of a solid laser medium 5A.

Abstract: A diode laser excitation sold-state laser amplifier capable of withstanding a mechanical disturbance, is easily fabricated and adjusted, can stably generate a high-efficiency high-quality laser beam and easily realize a large output. A diode laser excitation solid-state laser using this amplifier, including: a solid-state laser rod extending along the optical axis of a laser beam and including an active medium therein; two side plates for supporting both ends of the solid-state laser rod respectively; a flow tube provided to enclose the solid-state laser rod and containing a cooling medium; a plurality of excitation modules each having a flat substrate, with a hole formed at the center thereof through which the solid-state laser rod is passed, and at least one excitation light source, for providing excitation light from the lateral of the solid-state laser rod; and connecting and fixing means and for connecting a plurality of the excitation modules to each other and fixing them to the side plates.

Abstract: A longitudinally pumped laser including a pumping module having a pumped light source and an input optic, and a resonator having a first reflecting surface serving as an input mirror, a laser medium and a second reflecting surface serving as an output mirror. In order to avoid impairment of the operation of the pumped light source by retroreflected pumped light and/or by leakage radiation from the resonator, without appreciably worsening the adaptation of the pumped light ray to the mode volume of the laser, the pumping module and the resonator are so disposed relative to each other that a first optical axis defined by the pumped light source and input optic defines with a second optical axis defined by the resonator a predetermined angle of intersection greater than 0.degree. and less than about 15.degree., and more preferably in the range of about 0.05.degree. and about 1.degree..

Abstract: A solid state laser, comprising (a) a resonator, (b) at least one laser diode array for side pumping said resonator, and (c) at least one fan-out-covering optical system, between said resonator and said at least one laser diode array, does not suffer from thermal problems and provides a high quality beam. The solid state laser may be air cooled.

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 solid-state laser apparatus is composed of a semiconductor laser device 17, a laser medium 13 for generating oscillated light, a non-linear optical device 12 for converting the oscillated light to non-linear light, a laser holder 17a and a base plate 19 for holding the semiconductor laser device 17, and a crystal holder 3 for holding the laser medium 13 and the non-linear optical device 12. The laser holder 17a, base plate 19 and crystal holder 3 are fixed with an adhesive or the like after positional adjustment under light pressure and temporary tightening. A laser diode pumped solid-state laser apparatus is thus obtained which is simplified in assembling and positioning of optical components and can be stably operated regardless of temperature changes.

Abstract: A laser system capable of high speed silicon wafer dicing is disclosed. A laser with high average power, high repetition rate, ultra-short pulsewidth, and excellent beam quality is described. This is achieved by the use of high power diodes used to uniformly pump an improved Nd:YAlO.sub.3 crystal, resulting in a beam with excellent quality. In addition, a beta-barium borate (BBO) crystal, used in conjunction with drift step recovery diodes (DSRDs), forms a high speed optical switch which can be used to cavity dump the laser.

Abstract: The diameter of the spot of the light output from a laser diode is reduced through a coupled optical system so as to be smaller than the incidence aperture of a tapered total reflection rod. The light output from the coupling optics is focused into the incidence aperture of the total reflection rod. The total reflection rod is equipped with a smaller emission aperture than the diameter of the incidence aperture and further reduces the spot of the focused light. That is, the light passing through the total reflection rod is reduced to a smaller diameter while being totally reflected internally. A laser medium is in optical contact with the emission aperture of the total reflection rod and is pumped by the light which is output from the total reflection rod.

Abstract: A laser-diode-pumped solid-state laser in which a solid-state laser crystal is pumped by a laser beam emitted from a laser diode. An index-guided type multi-transverse mode broad area laser having a single optical waveguide is used as the laser diode. This leads to reduced output variations and noise of the laser. Preferably, the front reflectivity of the laser with respect to the oscillation wavelength of the laser should be more than 20%.

Abstract: A laser machining (including marking) method that employs a diode laser pumped solid state laser is controlled by a computer that contains a program for the interaction of the laser beam with a workpiece. The pumping of the laser is synchronised with the action of the beam in a series of active machining periods alternating with inactive non-machining periods. In order to avoid overheating of the active element, the duty cycle of these periods is maintained below a chosen value and no active period is allowed to exceed a selected percentage of the thermal time constant of the active element.

Abstract: A single longitudinal mode frequency-converted solid-state laser includes an optical pumping source that produces optical pumping radiation, a coupled resonant cavity having a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity sharing a common partially reflecting mirror, a solid-state laser medium disposed within the first resonant cavity and pumped by the optical pumping radiation, and an optical wavelength converting means within said second resonant cavity. The laser medium generates a first laser radiation at a first wavelength which is converted by the wavelength converting means into a second laser radiation at a second wavelength. A temperature controlling means controls the temperatures of the first and the second resonant cavities and of the optical pumping source. The optical path lengths of the first resonant cavity and the second resonant cavity are selected such that only one longitudinal mode of the coupled resonant cavity is within the gain bandwidth of the laser medium.

Abstract: A laser with high average power, high repetition rate, ultra-short pulsewidth, and excellent beam quality is described. This is achieved by the use of high power diodes used to uniformly pump an improved Nd:YAlO.sub.3 crystal, resulting in a beam with excellent quality. In addition, a beta-barium borate (BBO) crystal, used in conjunction with drift step recovery diodes (DSRDs), forms a high speed optical switch which can be used to cavity dump the laser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid state laser gain medium 28 comprising: (a) a gain layer 30 having pump regions 32 and first and second contact regions 34 and 36, respectively; (b) a first transparent layer 38 optically connected to the first contact region 34 of the gain layer 30 by diffusion bonding; and (c) a second transparent layer 40 optically connected to the second contact region 36 of the gain layer 30 by diffusion bonding. The transparent layers 38 and 40 are transparent to the lasing wavelength of the gain medium 28.

Abstract: A diode-pumped high performance solid state laser has at least one pump module comprising at least two laser diode arrays which transversely irradiate a solid state laser rod. The path length of the radiation emitted by a laser diode array through the solid state laser rod and the required absorption path for this radiation, determined by the emission wavelength of this radiation and the doping of the laser-active medium, are adapted to one another extensively in different ways.

Abstract: A two dimensional semiconductor laser array comprises a heat conducting base plate. A plurality of laser bars, having laser diodes stacked adjacent each other, are disposed in between a plurality of heat spreader plates and over the heat conducting base plate. Two spaced apart sidewalls are disposed on the heat conducting base plate, such that the heat spreader plate is thermally connected to said two sidewalls. The laser bars and the heat spreader plates are stacked upon each other, such that each heat spreader plate is disposed in between two of the laser bars.

Abstract: A solid-state laser module made up of a solid-state laser crystal, a semiconductor laser for pumping purposes, and a resonator mounted on one surface of a mounting plate. A base plate is spaced apart from the mounting plate while facing the opposite side of the mounting plate to the module-mounted side. The base plate and the mounting plate are coupled together by means of at least one coupling member. A temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the solid-state laser module is interposed between the mounting plate and the base plate with elastic adhesive layers between the element and the mounting plate, and between the element and the base plate.

Abstract: The multiple emitters laser diode assembly comprises a laser diode bar for emitting a laser beam. The laser diode bar comprises a plurality of emitters aligned with respect to each other in a same plane of emission. A graded-index elongated fiber microlens is transversely set at a given distance in front of the laser diode bar for controlling the divergence of the beam. The microlens has an axis of symmetry substantially intersecting the optical axis of each emitter. A mount is provided for positioning the microlens with respect to the laser diode bar. Alternatively, the assembly may comprise a laser diode array for emitting the beam. The laser diode array comprises a plurality of substantially parallel rows of emitters with a substantially regular period between them. An array of graded-index elongated fiber microlenses is positioned substantially parallel to the rows. Each microlens corresponds to one of the rows for collimating the beam generated thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser oscillating apparatus using a semiconductor laser or the like and a method of driving a laser beam source. The present invention relates particularly to a laser oscillating apparatus or the like having a nonlinear optical medium for generating a second harmonic and capable of by-pulse driving a laser beam source with high efficiency. In the laser oscillating apparatus, a optical resonator is composed of at least a laser crystal and an output mirror. The nonlinear optical medium for generating the second harmonic is inserted into the optical resonator. The laser beam source can effect pumping on the optical resonator so that the period T of a drive pulse produced from a pulse driving means satisfies a relation in .tau..sub.FL >T-.tau. with respect to .tau..sub.FL (fluorescence lifetime).

Abstract: A laser system for imaging graphic-arts constructions avoids the need to demagnify a divergent beam by using the output of a semiconductor or diode laser to optically pump a laser crystal, which itself emits laser radiation with substantially less beam divergence. A preferred implementation utilizes, as a pumping source, at least one laser device that emits in the IR, and preferably near-IR region, to image ablative or transfer-type printing members. The output of the pumping source is provided to the laser crystal via a focusing lens arrangement. The output of the laser crystal, in turn, is focused onto the surface of a recording medium to perform the imaging function.

Abstract: A laser or laser amplifier apparatus has a diode pump source producing a polarized pump beam. A laser head includes a gain medium that produces an output beam. One or more optical fibers are coupled to the diode pump source and deliver the pump beam to the laser head. A depolarization device is coupled to the diode pump source, laser head or optical fiber and produces an depolarized pump beam. By depolarizing the output beam, movement, including rotation, of the pump source does not comprise the output beam produced from the laser head.

Abstract: A stack type semiconductor laser device, which has a large overlapped area of beam patterns made by laser beams irradiated from a plurality of semiconductor laser elements, is disclosed. A first semiconductor laser element is formed on an N-type semiconductor substrate and is bonded to a surface of a pedestal at the side of an N-type electrode thereof through a solder layer. On the other hand, a second semiconductor laser element is differently formed on a P-type semiconductor substrate, and an N-type electrode thereof is bonded to a P-type electrode of the first semiconductor laser element through a solder layer in such a way that the laser beam irradiation planes of both semiconductor laser elements face in the same direction.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed for improving the brightness symmetry of a beam emitted from a laser diode where the beam has a large width and a narrow height. The optical system includes a tilt plate for displacing one half of the width of the beam downwardly. A first beam steering prism functions to tilt the remaining, second half of the beam width in a plane parallel to the width dimension so that the second half travels towards the first half. A second beam steering prism is provided to tilt the second half of the beam so that its propagation axis is parallel to the propagation axis of the first half and wherein the second half is stacked above the first half. The optical system functions to improve the brightness symmetry of the beam by a factor of about five. The corrected beam can be used to improve the performance of a solid state laser which is end pumped by a broad area laser diode or a laser diode bar.

Abstract: A compact diode pumped laser including a nonuniform, single- or double-sided diode pumped laser head and a polarization output coupled (POC) resonator. The POC resonator employs reflections from two opposing uncrossed roof prism mirrors to produce a uniform near field and far field beam with diffraction or near diffraction limited quality. The single laser head particularly includes a laser rod, a sapphire envelope located about the rod, an area of antireflection coating located on the sapphire envelope between the rod and the diode array, and a high reflectivity nickel-plated indium layer located on the sapphire envelope on the surface thereof outside of the area of antireflection coating.

Abstract: The present invention is an integrated, diode laser-pumped, solid state lr which can be fabricated entirely with semiconductor fabrication techniques. The laser includes a substrate, a semiconductor light source grown over the substrate to provide pump light and a solid state laser grown over the substrate. The semiconductor light source produces pump light at a wavelength useful for pumping the solid state laser. The solid state laser includes a pump mirror transparent to the pump light, an output mirror, and a doped semiconductor layer deposited between the pump and output mirrors, the semiconductor, dielectric or polymer layer being doped with active metal ions. The pump light from the semiconductor light source is closely coupled to the solid state laser and passes through the pump mirror to pump the active metal ions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vertical cavity laser diode (VCSEL) assembly with an integral set of detectors for the purpose of individually monitoring and adjusting the output power of each laser diode. A plate which has a plurality of light detectors and a plurality of apertures is bonded to a laser light source which has a plurality of VCSELs. Each aperture of the plate is aligned with a corresponding VCSEL and each light detector is electrically connected to a corresponding VCSEL.

Abstract: The invention provides a diode pumping module for a laser system, including a laser rod and a diode light source for excitation of the laser rod, the diode source being constituted by at least one diode array, a dual-function optical coupler/heat conductor located on one side of the laser rod between the at least one diode array and the laser rod, and attached to the rod, which coupler/heat conductor guides the light from the diode source into the rod while adjusting the angular spread of the light and also serves as heat conductor, conducting heat away from the rod. The system further includes a dual-function heat conductor/light reflector located on the opposite side of the laser rod, and attached to the rod, which conductor/reflector conducts the heat away from the laser rod and reflects unabsorbed diode light back into the rod.

Abstract: A high power solid state laser has a solid state laser medium with two ends and a longitudinal axis, at least one laser diode configured to end pump the laser medium, a resonator in optical alignment with the laser medium, a transparent and thermally conductive end cap disposed at each end of the laser medium and in thermal communication therewith, and at least one heat sink in thermal communication with the end caps. The end caps and the heat sink(s) cooperate to effect heat flow from the laser medium such that a substantial component of the heat flow is along the longitudinal axis of the laser medium, thus mitigating undesirable transverse temperature gradients within the laser medium and enhancing average power output therefrom.

Abstract: A transverse pumping system for a laser rod uses symmetrically arranged banks of laser diodes which create overlapping patterns of illumination inside the rod. Cooling is provided by a symmetrically constructed circulation system which directs a turbulent flow of cooling water against the laser rod and against a heat sink for the diode banks. Cooling water for the laser rod flows through a glass tube surrounding the rod. This enables the cooling water to perform an auxiliary function in focussing the illumination generated by the pumping diodes.

Abstract: A transversely pumped solid state laser includes: a solid state gain medium having thickness, width and longitudinal dimensions; means for forming a laser cavity with the medium for generating a laser beam along the longitudinal dimension; and a semiconductor laser pump source for directing a collimated pump beam to the medium along the width dimension transversely to the longitudinal dimension constrained toward the center of the medium and having a width which is substantially shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the medium for spacing the edges of the collimated beam away from the longitudinal ends of the medium to reduce thermomechanical distortion of the longitudinal ends of the medium and consequent distortion of the laser beam.

Abstract: A laser diode power combiner comprises a dye laser operably coupled to an array of laser diodes for combining optical power from the laser diodes into a single, coherent laser beam.