Slab laser with composite resonator and method of producing high-energy laser radiation

A laser comprising:

• a slab laser medium having a length, a width and a height;
• an energy source configured to energize the laser medium;
• and
• a resonator assembly having a first optical element with a first reflective surface and a second optical element with a second reflective surface, the first and second reflective surfaces being totally reflective, and the first and second reflective surfaces being (a) arranged to face each other across the length of the laser medium and (b) positioned at an angle relative to each other along the width of the laser medium, wherein at least one of the first or second reflective surfaces contains plurality of reflective regions configured to modify he phase distribution of the incident laser radiation to form a laser resonator.

A method of producing a laser, comprising:

• providing a slab laser medium;
• placing a first optical element at a first boundary of the laser medium and placing a second optical element at a second boundary of the laser medium, the first optical element having a first reflective surface and the second optical element having a second reflective surface, wherein at least one of the first and/or second optical elements includes reflective regions configured to modify the phase distribution of the incident laser radiation in the slab laser medium;
• and
• positioning the reflective surfaces at an angle to each other to form a laser resonator.

A laser comprising:

• a slab laser medium;
• an energy source configured to deliver energy to the laser medium;
• a reflective first optical element at a first boundary of the laser medium, the first optical element having a first reflective surface,
• a second optical element at a second boundary of the laser medium, the second optical element having a second surface;
• and
• a plurality of discrete reflective elements on at least one of the first and/or second optical elements, wherein the reflective elements have optical axes extending at an oblique angle relative to an opposing one of the first and/or second reflective surfaces.

A laser comprising:

• a slab laser medium having a length, a width and a height;
• a system for delivering energy to the laser medium;
• and
• a resonator assembly having a first optical element with a first reflective surface and a second optical element with a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface across the length of the laser medium, at least the second optical element including a plurality of optical regions having parallel optical axes spaced apart from each other along the width of the laser medium, wherein the first optical element and the optical regions of the second optical element are configured to produce a periodical energy distribution inside the laser resonator which propagates beyond the edge of one of the optical elements forming an output beam.

A laser comprising:

• a slab laser medium;
• means for energizing the laser medium;
• and
• means for producing a periodical laser energy distribution propagating outside the laser medium and forming an output beam.