Dual beam single spatial mode laser for handheld libs instruments and similar applications

A laser assembly comprising:

• a gain medium;
• a prism configured to establish two spaced light paths through the gain medium;
• a Q-switch positioned to intercept the two light paths;
• a source providing pump energy to the gain medium to direct light to the prism which redirects light along the two light paths through the gain medium and redirected back through the gain medium until two spaced pulsed laser output beams are produced or a single TEM01 or TEM10 spatial mode pulsed laser output beam with two lobes is produced.

A method of providing a higher power density laser beam at a focal point, the method comprising:

• providing pump energy to a gain medium;
• directing light from the gain medium to a prism which redirects light along the two spaced light paths back through the gain medium;
• redirecting the light back through the gain medium along the two spaced light paths;
• producing two spaced TEM00 spatial mode pulsed laser output beams or a single TEM01 or TEM10 spatial mode pulsed laser output beam with two lobes;
• and
• combining the two spaced laser output beams or two lobes at the focal point.

A handheld LIBS device comprising:

• an outer housing including:
• a laser assembly producing two pulsed single spatial mode output beams or a single pulsed laser output beam with two lobes,
• a focusing optic which combines the two pulsed single spatial mode output beams or two lobes at a focal point at a sample, and
• a spectrometer subsystem responsive to plasma radiation at or proximate the focal point and configured to detect sample element wavelengths;
• and
• the laser assembly including:
• a laser assembly housing a window,
• a gain medium in the laser assembly housing between the output coupler window and an adjustable prism mount in the laser assembly housing holding a prism configured to establish two light paths through the gain medium,
• a source in the laser assembly housing providing pump energy to the gain medium, and
• a Q-switch positioned between the prism and the gain medium.