A laser beam combining and power scaling device, comprising:
- first, second and third laser heads;
- said first laser head has a first optical axis;
- said first laser head being diode pumped;
- a first highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to said first optical axis in alignment therewith behind said first laser head reflecting radiation when emitted from said first laser head;
- a first Q-switch positioned in alignment with said first optical axis between said first highly reflective mirror and said first laser head;
- said second laser head has a second optical axis, said second laser head being diode pumped;
- a second highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to said second optical axis in alignment therewith behind said second laser head reflecting radiation when emitted from said second laser head;
- a second Q-switch positioned in alignment with said second optical axis between said second highly reflective mirror and said second laser head;
- said third laser head has a third optical axis, said third laser head being diode pumped;
- a third highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to said third optical axis in alignment therewith behind said third laser head;
- a third Q-switch positioned in alignment with said third optical axis between said third highly reflective mirror and said third laser head;
- said first and third optical axes being coincident;
- said second optical axis perpendicularly intersecting said first and said third optical axes;
- a beam splitter residing at said intersection of said second optical axis and said first and third optical axes;
- a laser output, said laser output having a laser output axis, said laser output axis being coincident with said second optical axis;
- said first laser head emits radiation along said first axis into and through said beam splitter, said beam splitter directing a first portion of said radiation emitted from said first laser head into said third laser head along said third optical axis and said beam splitter directing a second portion of said radiation emitted from said first laser head along said laser output axis coincident with said second optical axis;
- said third laser head emits radiation along said third axis into and through said beam splitter, said beam splitter directing a first portion of said radiation emitted from said third laser head into said first laser head along said first optical axis and said beam splitter directing a second portion of said radiation emitted from said third laser head along said second optical axis into said second laser head;
- said second laser head emits radiation along said second axis into and through said beam splitter, said beam splitter directing a first portion of said radiation emitted from said second laser head along said laser output axis and said beam splitter directing a second portion of said radiation emitted from said second laser head along said third optical axis and into said third laser head;
- and,
- said laser output emits radiation from said first, second and third laser heads along said laser output axis.