High-power planar waveguide (PWG) pumphead with modular components for high-power laser system

An apparatus comprising:

• a planar waveguide (PWG) pumphead configured to receive a low-power optical beam and generate a high-power optical beam, wherein the PWG pumphead comprises:
• a laser gain medium;
• a cartridge configured to receive and retain the laser gain medium, the cartridge comprising one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• a pumphead housing configured to receive and retain the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing;
• and
• spring-loaded clamps configured to secure the cartridge within the pumphead housing.

An apparatus comprising:

• a planar waveguide (PWG) pumphead configured to receive a low-power optical beam and generate a high-power optical beam, wherein the PWG pumphead comprises:
• a laser gain medium;
• a cartridge configured to receive and retain the laser gain medium, the cartridge comprising one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• and
• a pumphead housing configured to receive and retain the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing;
• wherein the pumphead housing comprises a cover having multiple viewing ports, the viewing ports configured to pass infrared radiation from different portions of the laser gain medium.

A system comprising:

• a laser system comprising a master oscillator and a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier comprising a PWG pumphead, input optics, and output optics;
• wherein the PWG pumphead is configured to receive a low-power optical beam from the master oscillator and generate a high-power optical beam;
• and
• wherein the PWG pumphead comprises:
• a laser gain medium;
• a cartridge configured to receive the laser gain medium and to retain the laser gain medium within the cartridge, the cartridge comprising cooling channels configured to transport coolant along opposite sides of the laser gain medium in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• and
• a pumphead housing configured to receive and retain the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing.

A system comprising:

• a laser system comprising a master oscillator and a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier comprising a PWG pumphead, input optics, and output optics;
• wherein the PWG pumphead is configured to receive a low-power optical beam from the master oscillator and generate a high-power optical beam;
• and
• wherein the PWG pumphead comprises:
• a laser gain medium;
• a cartridge configured to receive and retain the laser gain medium, the cartridge comprising one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• a pumphead housing configured to receive and retain the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing;
• and
• spring-loaded clamps configured to secure the cartridge within the pumphead housing.

A system comprising:

• a laser system comprising a master oscillator and a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier comprising a PWG pumphead, input optics, and output optics;
• wherein the PWG pumphead is configured to receive a low-power optical beam from the master oscillator and generate a high-power optical beam;
• wherein the PWG pumphead comprises:
• a laser gain medium;
• a cartridge configured to receive and retain the laser gain medium, the cartridge comprising one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• and
• a pumphead housing configured to receive and retain the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing;
• and
• wherein the pumphead housing comprises a cover having multiple viewing ports, the viewing ports configured to pass infrared radiation from different portions of the laser gain medium.

A method comprising:

• inserting a cartridge into a planar waveguide (PWG) pumphead of a laser system, the PWG pumphead configured to receive a low-power optical beam and generate a high-power optical beam;
• wherein the cartridge is configured to receive a laser gain medium and to retain the laser gain medium within the cartridge, the cartridge comprising cooling channels configured to transport coolant along opposite sides of the laser gain medium in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• and
• wherein the PWG pumphead comprises a pumphead housing configured to receive and retain the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removable from the housing.

A method comprising:

• inserting a cartridge into a planar waveguide (PWG) pumphead of a laser system, the PWG pumphead configured to receive a low-power optical beam and generate a high-power optical beam, wherein:
• the cartridge is configured to receive and retain a laser gain medium;
• the cartridge comprises one or more cooling channels configured to transport coolant in order to cool the laser gain medium;
• a pumphead housing of the PWG pumphead is configured to receive and retain the cartridge;
• and
• the cartridge is removable from the housing;
• and
• securing the cartridge within the pumphead housing using spring-loaded clamps.