Resonant galvanometer driven two dimensional gain scanner

A system for making small signal gain measurements of a chemical laser having a gain generator which defines a nozzle exit plane, the system comprising:

• a probe laser for generating an output beam;
• a scanning mirror for scanning the output beam of said probe laser, said scanning mirror tiltable toward a y-axis parallel to said nozzle exit plane and tiltable toward an x-axis, per pendicular to said nozzle exit plane, defining a plurality of x scan lines corresponding to output beams per pendicular to said nozzle exit plane at a corresponding plurality of y positions, said y positions representing the distance of said output beam relative to said nozzle height;
• first and second mirrors spaced apart mirrors defining a resonator region for amplifying said output beam, said gain generator disposed adjacent said resonator region;
• an optical system for directing the output beam from said scanning mirror to a detector and maintaining the probe beam parallel to said nozzle exit plane,
• a detector for measuring the amplified probe beam at a selected wavelengths;
• means for storing data from said detector for each x scan line at a y position;
• and
• means for controlling said scanning mirror in order to vary the y positions of said x scan lines until an entire frame has been scanned.