Solid state laser including a single mode gain swept configuration

A single frequency end-pumped solid state laser comprising:

• an input mirror and an output mirror defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors;
• a thin laser gain material having a predetermined gain length along said light path of less than approximately two millimeters and positioned at a predetermined location along said light path, producing light at a desired output wavelength such that a standing wave pattern at said desired output wavelength of light is formed within said cavity between said mirrors, and potentially producing light at other, unwanted wavelengths which potentially form other standing wave patterns, all of said wavelengths produced with a gain;
• and
• oscillation means for producing a continuous oscillatory change in resonant cavity length of said light path by varying the length of said light path a sufficient amount, causes the standing wave pattern of the desired output wavelength to oscillate as a traveling wave along said light path such that the standing wave pattern moves through at least the entire lengthwise extent of said gain material for extracting substantially all of the gain of said gain material, whereby only said desired output wavelength lases.

A method of producing a single frequency end-pumped solid state laser, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an input mirror and an output mirror defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors;
• positioning a laser gain material at a predetermined location along said light path having a predetermined gain length arranged along the light path for producing light at a desired output wavelength such that a standing wave pattern at said desired output wavelength is formed within said resonant cavity between said mirrors, and potentially producing light at other, unwanted wavelengths which potentially form other standing wave patterns, all of said wavelengths produced with a gain;
• and
• producing a continuous oscillatory change in resonant cavity length of said light path to cause the standing wave pattern of the desired output wavelength to oscillate as a traveling wave along said light path such that the standing wave pattern moves through at least the entire gain length of said gain material for extracting substantially all of the gain from said gain material, whereby only said desired output wavelength lases.

A method of producing a single frequency end-pumped solid state laser, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an input mirror and an output mirrior defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors:
• using a thin laser gain material having a predetermined gain length of less than approximately two millimeters and positioned at a predetermined location along said light path to produce light at a desired output wavelength such that a standing wave pattern at said desired output wavelength is formed within said resonant cavity between said mirrors, and potentially producing light at other, unwanted wavelengths which potentially form other standing wave patterns, all of said wavelengths produced with a gain;
• and
• producing a continuous oscillatory change in resonant cavity length of said light path to provide movement of the particular standing wave pattern of the desired output wavelength relative to said laser gain material so as to extract gain from the full gain length of the laser gain material using only said desired output wavelength such that only said desired output wavelength lases.