Rod laser with optical pumping from a source having a narrow emitting area
First Claim
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1. A rod laser with optical pumping from a source having a narrow emitting area, the laser comprising:
- an elongate laser rod having a longitudinal axis defining radial and circumferential directions in transverse planes, the material of the rod absorbing pumping light in order to amplify longitudinally propagating light to be amplified;
at least one pumping source having an emitting area of small circumferential width emitting a substantially radial pumping beam of said pumping light from said emitting area such that said pumping beam forms an angle of divergence at least initially in one of said transverse planes; and
a cylindrical reflector surrounding said rod and including at least one window to pass said pumping beam and constituting a light trap in which a fraction of said light, not absorbed during a first passage through said rod, is returned towards said rod for a subsequent pass; and
wherein said reflector forms with said rod an annular gap, said annular gap having a gap width in a radial direction, said emitting area of said pumping source being disposed outside said reflector and facing said window such that said rod is contained substantially within said pumping beam thereby producing a laser which has enhanced pumping uniformness and which minimizes pumping losses.
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Abstract
Pumping laser diodes (3) are disposed around a reflector tube (2) having narrow windows (14) through which the emitting areas of the diodes look. The tube leaves an angular gap (16) around a rod to be pumped (1) and a cooling liquid flows in said gap. The invention is particularly applicable to optically pumping a YAG rod.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A rod laser with optical pumping from a source having a narrow emitting area, the laser comprising:
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an elongate laser rod having a longitudinal axis defining radial and circumferential directions in transverse planes, the material of the rod absorbing pumping light in order to amplify longitudinally propagating light to be amplified; at least one pumping source having an emitting area of small circumferential width emitting a substantially radial pumping beam of said pumping light from said emitting area such that said pumping beam forms an angle of divergence at least initially in one of said transverse planes; and a cylindrical reflector surrounding said rod and including at least one window to pass said pumping beam and constituting a light trap in which a fraction of said light, not absorbed during a first passage through said rod, is returned towards said rod for a subsequent pass; and wherein said reflector forms with said rod an annular gap, said annular gap having a gap width in a radial direction, said emitting area of said pumping source being disposed outside said reflector and facing said window such that said rod is contained substantially within said pumping beam thereby producing a laser which has enhanced pumping uniformness and which minimizes pumping losses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rod laser with optical side pumping, said laser comprising:
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an elongate laser rod having a longitudinal axis defining radial and circumferential directions in transverse planes, said rod being of a material which absorbs pumping light in order to amplify longitudinally propagating light to be amplified; a cylindrical reflector surrounding said rod and spaced radially from said rod by an annular gap having a constant radial gap width; at least one pumping source having an emitting area with a small circumferential width outside said reflector and emitting a substantially radial pumping beam of said pumping light from said emitting area, said pumping beam having a positive or nul angle of divergence in one of said transverse planes, said reflector having at least one window passing said pumping beam and constituting a light rap in which an unabsorbed portion of such pumping beam is reflected towards said rod, and said emitting area facing said window so that the rod is contained substantially within said pumping beam thereby producing a laser which has enhanced pumping uniformness and which minimizes pumping losses. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification