Beam dumps having tailored absorbing surfaces

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive laser energy;
• and
• an absorbing surface within the cavity, the absorbing surface configured to absorb the laser energy and convert the laser energy into thermal energy;
• wherein:
• a first portion of the absorbing surface has one or more first angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and is configured to receive at least one first portion of the laser energy;
• second and third portions of the absorbing surface respectively have one or more second angles of incidence and one or more third angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and are configured to respectively receive at least one second portion of the laser energy and at least one third portion of the laser energy;
• the first, second, and third portions of the absorbing surface are arranged linearly such that the first portion of the absorbing surface is located between the second and third portions of the absorbing surface;
• the one or more first angles of incidence are larger than the one or more second angles of incidence and the one or more third angles of incidence;
• and
• the at least one first portion of the laser energy is more intense than the second and third portions of the laser energy.

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive laser energy;
• and
• an absorbing surface within the cavity, the absorbing surface configured to absorb the laser energy and convert the laser energy into thermal energy;
• wherein:
• a shape of the absorbing surface comprises an exponential cone;
• a first portion of the absorbing surface comprises a tip of the exponential cone, the first portion having one or more first angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and being configured to receive a first portion of the laser energy;
• a second portion of the absorbing surface comprises a base of the exponential cone, the second portion having one or more second angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and being configured to receive a second portion of the laser energy;
• the one or more first angles of incidence are larger than the one or more second angles of incidence;
• and
• the first portion of the laser energy is more intense than the second portion of the laser energy.

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive laser energy;
• and
• an absorbing surface within the cavity, the absorbing surface configured to absorb the laser energy and convert the laser energy into thermal energy;
• wherein:
• a shape of the absorbing surface comprises a truncated exponential cone;
• a first portion of the absorbing surface comprises a central portion of the truncated exponential cone;
• a second portion of the absorbing surface comprises a base of the truncated exponential cone;
• a third portion of the absorbing surface comprises a surface between the central portion of the truncated exponential cone and the base of the truncated exponential cone;
• the first and second portions of the absorbing surface respectively have one or more first angles of incidence and one or more second angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and are configured to respectively receive at least one first portion of the laser energy and at least one second portion of the laser energy;
• the third portion of the absorbing surface has one or more third angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and is configured to receive at least one third portion of the laser energy;
• the one or more third angles of incidence are larger than the one or more first angles of incidence and the one or more second angles of incidence;
• and
• the at least one third portion of the laser energy is more intense than the first and second portions of the laser energy.