Exchangeable pump module

Laser apparatus comprising:

• an optical fiber having an input end and an output end;
• a diode-laser delivering a beam of laser-radiation into the optical fiber through the input end;
• a connector-assembly body and a collimating lens, the output end of the optical fiber fixedly held in one end of the connector-assembly body, the beam of laser-radiation propagating out of the fixed output end of the optical fiber towards the opposed end of the connector-assembly body, the collimating lens fixedly held within the connector-assembly body, the fixed collimating lens arranged to intercept and collimate the beam of laser-radiation;
• a laser-enclosure including a focusing lens and a gain-element, the collimated beam of laser-radiation propagating out through the opposed end of the connector-assembly body and into the laser-enclosure via an entrance-aperture therein, the focusing lens arranged to intercept the collimated beam of laser-radiation and to focus the beam of laser-radiation into the gain-element, the focused beam of laser-radiation energizing the gain-element;
• and
• wherein the connector-assembly body is mechanically referenced and attached to the laser-enclosure and is detachable from the laser-enclosure, and the fixed collimating lens is arranged such that the collimated beam of laser-radiation is collinear with a preferred alignment axis defined with respect to the connector-assembly body.