Method and apparatus for cooling semiconductor pumped lasers
AssigneesBAE Systems Information, Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorPeter Ketteridge
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Abstract
A laser system having a cooling apparatus is disclosed. The laser system includes a resonator, a gain medium and multiple heat-absorbing discs. The resonator is formed by a first mirror and a second mirror. The gain medium, which is contained within the resonator, is collectively formed by a group of gain medium segments. Each of the gain medium segments is preferably in the shape of a cylindrical disc. The heat-absorbing discs are interleavely disposed among the gain medium segments to provide face cooling for the gain medium segments during the operation of the laser system.
Claims20
A laser system comprising:
- a resonator formed by a first mirror and a second mirror;
- an active gain medium contained within said resonator, wherein said active gain medium is collectively formed by a plurality of gain medium segments;
- and
- a plurality of heat-absorbing discs interleavely disposed among said plurality of gain medium segments to provide face cooling for said plurality of gain medium segments during an operation of said laser system.
A method for cooling a pump laser, said method comprising:
- forming a resonator by a first mirror and a second mirror;
- placing an active gain medium within said resonator, wherein said active gain medium is collectively formed by a plurality of gain medium segments;
- and
- interleavely disposing a plurality of heat-absorbing discs among said plurality of gain medium segments to provide face cooling for said plurality of gain medium segments during an operation of said pump laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.