Quanta-ray, Inc.

Stephen J Brosnan

Richard L Herbst

In a high power laser, such as one employing a relatively high gain lasing medium such as CO.sub.2 or Nd:YAG, the optical resonator for the laser comprises a positive branch unstable resonator. The output beam is coupled from the unstable resonator by means of a partially transmissive mirror of the resonator, whereby a filled-in beam is obtained while facilitating optical alignment of the output coupling means. In a preferred embodiment, the optical resonator comprises a pair of mirrors collinearly arranged on the optical axis of the resonator to supply an output beam which is collinear with the optical axis of the resonator. The filled-in output beam is of generally uniform power density across the transverse cross sectional dimensions thereof, whereby a near diffraction limited output beam is obtained with more uniform power density.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Stephen J Brosnan