Insulated water cooled gain medium assembly for a laser system

A gain medium assembly for a laser system connectable to a cooling fluid source, comprising:

• an elongated gain medium having an outer side surface and two opposing end faces;
• an elongated insulating jacket disposed around the gain medium side surface;
• an elongated cooling jacket disposed around the insulating jacket to define a cooling channel therebetween for guiding flowing cooling fluid from the cooling fluid source over the insulating jacket;
• and
• an elongated energy source for optically exciting and heating the gain medium, wherein the heat in the gain medium dissipates out through the outer side surface, through the insulating jacket and to the cooling fluid in the cooling channel, and wherein the gain medium is maintained at a temperature that is significantly higher than the temperature of the cooling fluid.

A laser system connectable to a cooling fluid source, comprising:

• a plurality of laser cavities each having:
• a gain medium,
• a cooling jacket disposed around the gain medium for receiving cooling fluid from the cooling source, and
• an energy source for optically exciting and heating the gain medium, wherein the gain medium is cooled by the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling jacket;
• and
• one of the laser cavities including:
• an insulating jacket disposed between the gain medium and the cooling jacket to define a cooling channel between the insulating jacket and the cooling jacket for guiding flowing cooling fluid from the cooling fluid source over the insulating jacket, wherein the heat in the gain medium dissipates through the insulating jacket and to the cooling fluid in the cooling channel, and wherein the gain medium is maintained at a temperature that is significantly higher than the temperature of the cooling fluid.