Energy scalable laser amplifier

A solid-state laser comprising:

• a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source;
• a plurality of solid-state laser gain elements positioned in a operationally parallel configuration with each gain element having first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting amplified radiation and having second aperture means for transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate;
• input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said gain elements;
• phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each said gain elements back to said respective second aperture means;
• and
• output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said solid-state laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.

A diode laser comprising:

• a phase coherent master oscillator radiation source;
• an array of laser diode gain elements disposed in a substantially parallel configuration with each diode gain element havng first aperture means for receiving unamplified radiation from said master oscillator and transmitting noncoherent amplified radiation and receiving its phase conjugate;
• input means for coupling a predetermined portion of unamplified radiation from said master oscillator to said first aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements;
• phase conjugate reflector means operatively coupled to said second aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements for reflecting the phase conjugate of radiation leaving said second aperture means of each of said laser diode gain elements back to said respective second aperture means;
• and
• output coupling means for coupling coherent amplified radiation from said plurality of laser diode gain elements transmitted by each of said first aperture means out of said diode laser as a phase coherent output beam of radiation.