General Electric Company

Mark J Kukla

John L August, Jr

Josef Robert Unternahrer

William Taylor Lotshaw

Joseph P Chernoch

Todd Jay Rockstroh

Nobuaki Iehisa

An oven for heating a crystal for nonlinear frequency conversion of a laser beam. A grasping device resiliently grasps together the first and second sides of the crystal while allowing for generally unrestricted thermal expansion of the crystal. A heater element and a temperature sensor are each supported by the grasping device and are each in thermal contact with the crystal. A temperature controller is connected to the heater element and the temperature sensor.

Oven for heating a crystal for a laser frequency conversion

An exemplary laser apparatus comprises an amplification medium which amplifies a coherent beam passing through the amplification medium, a pump which provides energy to the amplification medium, a tunnel having a first end proximate to the pump and a second end proximate to the amplification medium, wherein the energy provided by the pump passes through the tunnel en route to the amplification medium, and a moveable member for adjusting a spatial distribution of the energy provided to the amplification medium by the pump. The moveable member typically comprises a flat, reflecting strip or flap which redirects a portion of the energy of the pump beam to a peripheral region of the amplification medium. The angular and translational position of the flap is adjustable on line so that the pump distribution can be adjusted while the laser is running to reduce observed optical distortions caused by heating of the amplification medium.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the pump distribution in a laser

A slab module for a face-pumped laser includes a box frame having top and bottom walls and opposite end walls defining a central slab chamber therein. The end walls have central access holes for receiving opposite ends of a laser slab positionable in the slab chamber. The frame also includes opposite side pockets which join with the slab chamber. The pockets are configured for receiving laser pumping modules for pumping the laser slab, with the modules including diode laser arrays in an exemplary embodiment.

Diode pumped slab module

A modular slab assembly for a face-pumped laser includes a slab module having top and bottom reflector segments, with first and second inner end caps joined thereto. A plurality of alignment keys are disposed between the inner end caps and the reflector segments for maintaining alignment therebetween, with the inner end caps being removably fastened to the reflector segments. The inner end caps have central apertures for supporting a slab tube, with a laser slab being disposed through the tube and supported at its ends by outer end caps removably fixedly joined to respective ones of the inner end caps. A pair of removable lamp modules are disposed on opposite sides of the slab module and contain lamps for exciting the laser slab.

Modular slab assembly for a face-pumped laser

This invention relates to a positioning, compression and storage device for modular face-pumped slab laser heads of the type that are constructed of individual components, which are rigidly attached together, in order to form an integral structure. Such structures of this type, generally, allow face-pumped slab laser head components to be assembled and stored easily and quickly.

Positioning, compression and storage device for a modular face-pumped

This invention relates to face-pumped slab lasers of the type that have laser head assemblies constructed of individual components, which are rigidly attached together, in order to form an integral structure. Such structures of this type, generally, allow a face-pumped slab laser component to be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Modular construction of face-pumped laser head components

This invention relates to an alignment assembly jig for face-pumped slab laser heads of the type that are constructed of individual components, which are rigidly attached together, in order to form an integral jig structure. Such structures of this type, generally, allow the face-pumped slab laser head components to be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Alignment assembly jig for a modular face-pumped laser

This invention relates to lasers which produce a high average power. Such structures of this type, generally, produce the high average power intensity having a high peak intensity at a wavelength near 530 nm.

High average power laser which generates radiation at a wavelength near

A substantially rectangular slab of laser material has a pair of opposing concave edge faces to reduce parasitic oscillations. The concavities can be curved in either the transverse or longitudinal directions or both, i.e., they are toroidal sections. The slab can be Nd:YAG. Brewster ends and chamfered corners can be provided for the slab as well as tapered portions for the concavities. In a laser, the concave portions have a length slightly greater than that of the pump lamps. A pair of siderails are over the concave portions to reduce optical distortion.

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Ballston Spa, NY, United States of America

Mark J Kukla