Laser gain module and method for producing such a module
AssigneesFibercryst, Cnrs
InventorsNicolas Aubry, Didier Perrodin, Julien Didierjean, Jean-Marie Fourmigue, François Balembois, Igor Martial
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a laser gain module (1) comprising: a laser rod (5) having a shaft and two optical interfaces (7, 9) facing each other, the rod (5) being used for longitudinal or quasi-longitudinal optical pumping; and a metal cooling body (3), at least one part of which is molded around the laser rod (5) in order to cover all of the surfaces other than the optical interfaces in such a way that the laser gain module (1) forms a solid body that cannot be disassembled at ambient temperature.
Claims14
A laser gain module comprising:
- a laser rod comprising two optical interfaces arranged opposing one another, the laser rod being intended to undergo a longitudinal or near-longitudinal optical pumping, and
- a metal cooling body at least a part of which is molded around the laser rod so as to cover all surfaces other than optical interfaces in such a manner that the laser gain module forms a non-removable solid body at room temperature.
A method for fabricating a laser gain module, comprising:
- bringing into contact a laser rod with a metal compound in solid or liquid form to form a rod-metal compound assembly;
- heating the rod-metal compound assembly to a temperature at least equal to a melting point of the metal compound, allowing the metal compound to mold around the laser rod;
- cooling the rod-metal compound assembly to a temperature lower than the melting point of the metal compound in order to form a non-removable solid body at room temperature;
- and
- cutting and polishing the rod-metal compound assembly so as to form two optical interfaces arranged opposing one another, all surfaces other than the optical interfaces being covered by the metal compound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.