초록 ▼

A laser amplifier with high gain and high power efficiency comprises a gain medium characterized by at least two optical paths through the gain medium. An optic supplies the input laser pulse along a first optical path, so that the laser pulse has a transverse dimension Di as it propagates along the

A laser amplifier with high gain and high power efficiency comprises a gain medium characterized by at least two optical paths through the gain medium. An optic supplies the input laser pulse along a first optical path, so that the laser pulse has a transverse dimension Di as it propagates along the first optical path and exits the gain medium as a first pass amplified pulse. A second optic expands the first pass amplified pulse in the transverse dimension to an expanded pulse with transverse dimension De, and guides the expanded pulse along a second optical path through the gain medium. The laser pulse exits the gain medium as a second pass amplified pulse. A third optic in a preferred system guides the second pass amplified pulse along a third optical path through the gain medium so that the laser pulse exits the gain medium as the output pulse.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for amplifying a laser pulse to generate an output laser pulse, comprising: a gain medium having an active region, a first optical path characterized by a first axis through the active region and a second optical path characterized by a second axis through the active region and wherein

An apparatus for amplifying a laser pulse to generate an output laser pulse, comprising: a gain medium having an active region, a first optical path characterized by a first axis through the active region and a second optical path characterized by a second axis through the active region and wherein the first axis intersects the second axis within the gain medium at an angle A; first means for supplying the laser pulse along the first optical path, so that the laser pulse has a transverse dimension Di as it propagates along the first optical path, to generate a first pass amplified pulse; second means for expanding the first pass amplified pulse in the transverse dimension Di to an expanded pulse with a transverse dimension De, and for guiding the expanded pulse along the second optical path, to generate the output laser pulse.