Pulsed dye laser apparatus for high PRF operation

Laser apparatus for producing a laser beam, said apparatus comprising:

• a first resonator cell, said cell having first and second walls extending generally in a direction transverse to an axis of propagation of said laser beam, said cell further including a narrow passageway located between said walls and along said axis for receiving a dye solution, and said passageway having a dimension in a direction transverse to said axis of between about 0.3 mm and about 0.75 mm;
• a second resonator cell, said second resonator cell having cell walls extending generally in a direction transverse to said axis and a second narrow passageway therein between said cell walls, said second passageway being located to receive a laser beam along said axis from said first resonator cell, and said second passageway having a dimension in a direction transverse to said axis of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.00 mm;
• means for circulating a dye solution through said passageways at a flow rate of between about 5 ms.sup.-1 and about 15 ms.sup.-1 ;
• and
• pump laser means for delivering a pump laser beam to said cells in a direction transverse to said axis, said pump laser delivering said pump laser beam at a pulse repetition frequency greater than 5,000 pulses per second.