Flashlamp pumped laser device employing fluid material for producing

Abstract

A flashlamp pumped laser device employing a fluid material such as a dye solution for producing a laser beam, comprising an elongated hollow cell having an active or lasing region including a throat intermediate a continuously converging inlet chamber and a continuously diverging outlet chamber. The active region and the inlet and outlet chambers adjacent the active region are defined by two opposed inwardly curving walls formed of transparent material such as quartz. An elongated inlet manifold uniformly introduces the lasing fluid into the inlet chamber in a direction transverse to the laser output beam along the length of the active region. An elongated outlet manifold is disposed in the outlet chamber as and for the same purposes as the inlet pipe. A diverter member is disposed in the diverging portion of the outlet chamber just downstream of the active region and shaped to lessen flow separation, eddies, vorticies and the like which give rise to non-uniform densities and temperatures in the lasing liquid in or as it leaves the active region. The diverter member may be integral with or separate from the outlet manifold. Alternately, the outlet manifold may also function as the diverter. A liquid cooled flashlamp is removeably disposed behind each curved wall at the narrowest portion of the active region and means are provided to prevent the flashlamp coolant from contacting those portions of the curved walls remote from the active region. Means associated with the flashlamps are provided to direct the light from the flashlamps to the active region, said means and the curved walls defining the coolant flow channels for the flashlamps.