Mechanically Q-switched CO2 laser

A gas laser comprising:

• an enclosure containing a laser gas;
• a laser resonator having a longitudinal resonator axis-extending through the lasing gas in the enclosure;
• the laser resonator including first, second, and third mirrors;
• the first mirror terminating the resonator at a first end thereof;
• the second mirror being oscillatable at a predetermined frequency about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal resonator-axis through an angular range of oscillation extending from one side of an optimal alignment plane of the mirror to the other and arranged to periodically sweep the resonator axis over the third mirror when the second mirror is oscillating;
• and
• the third mirror being configured and arranged with respect to the first and second mirrors and with frequency of oscillation of the second mirror and the angular range of oscillation of the second mirror being selected such that when the laser gas is energized by the electrical pumping arrangement and the second mirror is oscillating, the laser resonator is terminated at a second end thereof by the third mirror twice during each oscillation period of the second mirror, with a laser pulse being delivered from the resonator each time the laser resonator is terminated at a second end thereof by the third mirror.

A gas laser comprising:

• an enclosure containing a laser gas;
• a laser resonator having a longitudinal resonator axis-extending through the lasing gas in the enclosure;
• the laser resonator including first end-mirror, a second mirror, and an a plurality N of temporary end-mirrors;
• the first end-mirror being a terminating mirror of the laser resonator at a first end thereof;
• the second mirror being oscillatable at a predetermined frequency about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal resonator-axis through an angular range of oscillation extending from one side of a nominal alignment plane of the mirror to the other and arranged to periodically sweep the resonator axis over the plurality of temporary end-mirrors when the second mirror is oscillating, the nominal alignment plane of the second mirror being at a non-orthogonal angle to the longitudinal resonator-axis;
• and
• the plurality of temporary end-mirrors being configured and arranged with respect to the first and second mirrors and with the frequency of oscillation of the second mirror and the angular range of oscillation of the second mirror being selected such that when the laser gas is energized by the electrical pumping arrangement and the second mirror is oscillating, the laser resonator is terminated at a second end thereof by each of the temporary end-mirrors twice during each oscillation period of the second mirror, with a laser pulse being delivered from the resonator each time the laser resonator is terminated at a second end thereof by one of the temporary end mirrors, whereby 2N pulses are delivered from the resonator during each oscillating period of the second mirror.

A gas laser comprising:

• an enclosure containing a laser gas;
• a laser resonator having a longitudinal resonator axis-extending through the lasing gas in the enclosure, the laser resonator including first, second and third mirrors;
• a mask having at least one aperture therein located between the second mirror and the third mirror;
• the first mirror being a terminating mirror of the laser resonator at a first end thereof;
• the second mirror being oscillatable at a predetermined frequency about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal resonator-axis through an angular range of oscillation extending from one side of a nominal alignment plane of the second mirror to the other and arranged to periodically sweep the resonator axis over the aperture in the mask when the second mirror is oscillating, the nominal alignment plane of the second mirror being at a non-orthogonal angle to the longitudinal resonator-axis;
• and
• the third mirror and the aperture in the mask being configured and arranged with respect to the first and second mirrors and the frequency of oscillation of the second mirror and the angular range of oscillation of the second mirror being selected such that when the laser gas is energized by the electrical pumping arrangement and the second mirror is oscillating, the laser resonator is terminated at a second end thereof by a portion of the third mirror accessible by the resonator axis through the aperture in the mask twice during each oscillation period of the second mirror, with a laser pulse being delivered from the resonator each time the laser resonator is terminated at a second end thereof by that portion of the third mirror.