Synrad, Inc.

Gsi Group Corporation

Novanta Corporation

Jason W Bethel

Jeffery A Broderick

Eugene F Yelden

Benjamin K Jones

Melvin J Lima

Alex Brandon Dexter

Linh K Nguyen

Jacob Litmanovic

Ross Wheeler

Patrick Kolsch

Giang B Nguyen

Yakov L Litmanovich

Erik R Stockinger

An external optical feedback element () for tuning an output beam of a gas laser () having multiple wavelengths includes a partially reflective optical element () positioned on a beam path of the output beam () outside of an internal optical cavity of the gas laser (), and a stage () to support the optical element and adjust rotation, horizontal tilt angle, and vertical tilt angle of the optical element with respect to the beam path. The output beam () is partially reflected at the optical element () and fed back into the internal optical cavity of the gas laser (), with the intensity varying for multiple wavelengths and adjusted by changing rotation, horizontal tilt angle and vertical tilt angle of the optical element. Thereby, a variable feedback of the output beam into the internal optical cavity of the gas laser is provided, which leads to a selective output wavelength of the gas laser, either at a single line or at multiple lines simultaneously. This setup may allow to control the wavelength of a commercial CO2 gas laser without a modification of the laser itself by adding a coupled cavity with a wavelength selective element like a grating to the given gas laser resonator.

External optical feedback element for tuning a multi-wavelength gas laser

The resonator includes a lasing medium having a thickness, a first mirror disposed at a first end of the lasing medium and a second mirror disposed at a second end of the lasing medium. The first and second mirror cooperate to fold an intra-cavity laser beam along a plurality of paths through the lasing medium, thereby defining a boundary of a superfluous region within the resonator, wherein the intra-cavity laser beam does not pass through the superfluous region. The first mirror and the second mirror form a laser resonator for a parasitic laser mode, a portion of which is located within the superfluous region. A parasitic mode suppressor is located within the superfluous region of the resonator.

Laser resonator with parasitic mode suppression

The tube includes a first electrode having a first electrode inner surface and a second electrode having a second electrode inner surface. The first electrode is separated, in a first transverse direction, from the second electrode thereby defining a gap region having a gap thickness between the first electrode inner surface and the second electrode inner surface. The tube further includes a first and a second elongated baffle member, each having a respective elongated central channel formed in an inner surface thereof.

Laser tube with baffles

A laser system and method having an output laser beam uses an gain medium with one or more output beam transverse profile tailoring (OBTPT) longitudinal strips to tailor the transverse profile of the output laser beam to a desirable shape such as having a symmetrical profile transverse to the direction of propagation of the output laser beam. The laser system has two reflector systems on opposite ends in the long z-axis dimension of the gain medium to form a resonator that outputs the output laser beam following the same long z-axis dimension. In some embodiments the gain medium has a narrow y-axis dimension and a wide x-axis dimension. In these embodiments the OBTPT longitudinal strips have lengths running the long z-axis dimension, widths running the wide x-axis dimension and thicknesses running the narrow y-axis dimension of the gain medium. The widths of the OBTPT longitudinal strips are generally chosen with respect to coupling width of the output laser beam. The OBTPT longitudinal strips are contoured to change their y-axis thicknesses with respect to position along the z-axis so that the output laser beam is formed with a desired transverse profile upon exiting the laser system. Location, number, contouring, and other aspects of the OBTPT longitudinal strips can be varied depending upon the particular output beam tailoring that is desired.

Laser system and method for gain medium with output beam transverse profile tailoring longitudinal strips

A system and method for laser beam coupling between waveguide optics uses extension members to reduce power losses in a laser beam traveling within a resonator cavity of the laser beam. In some embodiments, the extension members are made of electrically conducting material and are spaced from longitudinal ends of electrodes by electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is sized to prevent electrical discharge from occurring between the electrode and the extension member adjacent thereto. In other embodiments, the extension members are fashioned from a lasing medium such as from a solid-state crystal lasing medium.

System and method for laser beam coupling between waveguide and optics

A laser system and method for beam enhancement utilizes shaped electrodes or one or more shaped lasing media, including crystal media, to prescribe the operational transverse modes of the laser. The electrodes and shaped lasing media are shaped with respect to the transverse mode or modes to be selected for operational use. In some embodiments shaping is done according to the selected transverse modes for operation so that at least a designated percentage of the total operational power of the beam is made up of the selected transverse modes. The designated percentage of total operational power of the selected transverse modes can be 90% of the total power of the beam, but in other more relaxed cases can be 85% and in other more stringent cases are 95% of the beam. In some embodiments, the electrodes or lasing media are so shaped that the theoretical fundamental transverse mode is the only selected transverse operational mode. Some embodiments utilize folded resonators. Other embodiments utilize other resonators including resonators having multiple discharge sections and are not folded.

Laser system and method for beam enhancement

A laser with a heat transfer system and method of making the same using electrodes. The heat transfer system draws heat from the electrodes which have internal electrode surfaces adjacent to a lasing medium of the laser. Cooling of the electrodes helps to maintain proper operating temperature for the lasing medium. The heat transfer system utilizes thermally conductive material positioned between external surfaces of the electrodes and internal surfaces of a housing that contains the electrodes and the lasing medium. Since the thermally conductive material adds capacitance to the laser system, inductance may be added for compensation depending upon the amount of thermally conductive material used. Options exist for positioning and applying the thermally conductive material between the electrodes and housing including press fitting strips of the thermally conductive material in depressions in the electrodes, and spray coating the thermally conductive material onto the electrodes, or the housing, or onto both the electrodes and the housing.

Laser with heat transfer system and method

A laser assembly system and method uses an electrode assembly and flexible housing to reduce manufacturing costs and complexity. The flexible housing also helps to insure uniform contact with the housing and electrically insulating material between the housing and electrodes. The uniform contact in turn assists in maintaining a uniform electric field in the discharge area of the laser, which affects laser performance, and assists in maintaining efficient cooling of the electrodes and the lasing medium. The electrode assembly is pre-assembled before insertion into the laser housing, which reduces adverse effects of anomalies of housing construction and helps to reduce the complexity and cost of manufacturing of the laser. The electrode assembly includes first and second electrodes that are separated by spacers made out of an electrically insulating material such as ceramic. The first and second electrodes are rigidly linked together in the electrode assembly by linkages such as including bolts and ceramic bushings. In an unflexed position, top and bottom walls of the housing are slightly bowed toward the center of the housing. The thickness and bow of the top and bottom walls of the housing allow for substantial resilient flexing of the housing under an applied outward force to the top and bottom walls of the housing. The outward flexing of the top and bottom walls of the housing accommodates insertion of the electrode assembly into the housing. After the electrode assembly is inserted into the housing, the applied force to the top and bottom walls of the housing is removed, which allows the top and bottom walls of the housing to supply a clamping force onto the outer surfaces of the electrode assembly due to the bow and resiliency of the top and bottom walls of the housing.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Jason W Bethel