Method and apparatus for an increased pulse repetition rate for a CW pumped laser

A CW pumped laser comprising:

• a) a laser rod wherein at least a portion of said laser rod is hollow, and wherein at least a non-hollow portion of said hollow laser rod forms a laser beam, said hollow laser rod has an axis of rotation and a laser beam optical axis, wherein said optical axis is set-off from said axis of rotation by at least one laser beam radius,
• b) at least one means for optically pumping at least a portion of said hollow laser rod,
• c) at least one means for rotating said hollow laser rod,
• d) at least one first mirror to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam,
• e) at least one second mirror, wherein said second mirror is an output coupler mirror to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein said second mirror is opposite said first mirror,
• f) at least one aperture defining the diameter of said laser beam, and
• g) wherein said optical axis passes through said aperture and said first and said second mirrors during the rotation of said hollow laser rod, thereby forming said CW pumped laser.

A method for an increased pulse repetition rate for a CW pumped laser comprising the steps of:

• a) rotating a laser rod having an optical axis and a rotational axis, wherein said optical axis is displaced from said rotational axis by at least one radius of a laser beam,
• b) optically pumping at least a portion of said rotating laser rod, such that at least a portion of said rotating laser rod is lasing and forming said laser beam, while at least a portion of a non-lasing portion of said rotating laser rod is being optically pumped,
• c) at least two mirrors reflecting at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein at least one of said mirrors is an output coupler mirror, and
• d) allowing the passage of said reflected laser beam to pass through at least one exit aperture, and thereby increasing said pulse repetition rate for said CW pumped laser.

A method for an increase pulse repetition rate for a CW pumped laser comprising the steps of:

• a) rotating a laser rod, wherein at least a portion of said laser rod is hollow, said laser rod having an optical axis and a rotational axis, wherein said optical axis is displaced from said rotational axis by at least one radius of a laser beam,
• b) optically pumping at least a portion of said rotating hollow laser rod, such that at least a portion of said rotating hollow laser rod is lasing and forming said laser beam, while at least a portion of a non-lasing portion of said rotating laser rod is being optically pumped,
• c) at least two mirrors reflecting at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein at least one of said mirrors is an output coupler mirror, and
• d) allowing the passage of said reflected laser beam to pass through at least one exit aperture, and thereby increasing said pulse repetition rate for said CW pumped laser.