Laser reflecting cavity with ASE suppression and heat removal

Laser apparatus comprising:

• a laser medium adapted to provide laser light;
• a pump light source for providing pump light to said laser medium;
• a thermally conducting transparent member disposed adjacent to said laser medium and having an entrance window disposed adjacent said pump light source;
• a liquid cooling channel disposed between said laser medium and said thermally conducting transparent member;
• an optically transmitting antireflecting coating disposed on said thermally conducting transparent member that transmits said pump light provided by said pump light source that is transmitted to said laser medium through said entrance window of said thermally conducting transparent member;
• a dielectric coating disposed on said thermally conducting transparent member that reflects said pump light and transmits said laser light to suppress amplified stimulated emission;
• an absorbing elastic material disposed on the outer surface of said thermally conducting transparent member around said dielectric coating that is adapted to absorb said laser light;
• and
• a heat sink disposed in contact with said absorbing elastic material to conduct heat away from said laser medium.

Laser apparatus comprising:

• a pump light source;
• a laser medium;
• two layers of transparent elastic material disposed on opposite surfaces of said laser medium.
• an air gap disposed around the lateral edges of said laser medium sufficient to provide for heat transfer;
• a thermally conducting transparent member disposed between a first layer of said transparent elastic material and said pump light source;
• a heat sink disposed around the periphery of said laser medium and coupled to said thermally conducting transparent member to conduct heat away from said laser medium;
• and
• a dielectric coating disposed around a predetermined portion of the periphery of said laser medium.