Laser apparatus including crystal protection circuitry and method of operation thereof

A laser apparatus comprising:

• a laser crystal situated within a laser cavity;
• an excitation lamp for pumping said crystal with pulses of light energy to cause said apparatus to generate a laser beam projecting along a desired main path;
• first sensing means for sensing cessation of the projection of said laser beam along said desired main laser beam path;
• second sensing means for sensing the continuing excitation of said excitation lamp subsequent to cessation of the projection of said laser beam along said desired main path;
• shut-down signal generating means, coupled to said first and second sensing mean, for generating a shut-down signal when the excitation of said excitation lamp continues after a predetermined number of pulses of light energy have been emitted by said lamp subsequent to cessation of the projection of said laser beam along said desired main path;
• and
• interrupting means, coupled to said shut-down signal generating means, for interrupting the operation of said excitation lamp to prevent damage to said laser apparatus.

A method of protecting a laser apparatus from damage, said laser apparatus including a laser crystal situated within a laser cavity and further including an excitation lamp for pumping said crystal to generate a laser beam, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating, by said apparatus, of a desired main laser beam in response to excitation of said laser crystal by said excitation lamp;
• sensing, by said apparatus, of the cessation of said desired main laser beam;
• sensing, by said apparatus, of the continuing excitation of said excitation lamp;
• and
• extinguishing said excitation lamp a predetermined time interval after the step of sensing has indicated cessation of said laser beam such that damage to said laser apparatus due to overheating is avoided.

A method of protecting a laser apparatus from damage, said laser apparatus including a laser crystal situated within a laser cavity and further including an excitation lamp, said method comprising the steps of:

• pumping, by said excitation lamp, of said crystal with pulses of light energy to cause said apparatus to generate a desired main laser beam in response thereto;
• sensing, by said apparatus, of the cessation of said desired main laser beam;
• sensing, by said apparatus, of the continuing excitation of said excitation lamp subsequent to cessation of said desired main laser beam;
• generating a shut-down signal when the excitation of said excitation lamp continues after a predetermined number of pulses of light energy have been emitted by said lamp subsequent to cessation of said main laser beam;
• and
• interrupting the operation of said excitation lamp in response to said shut-down signal such that damage to said laser due to overheating is avoided.