Patent ID: 9525265
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: G03F,H01S

Claim Text:
1. A flat-top beam generator comprising: a laser pulse repetition rate multiplier including an optical cavity comprising a beam splitter, two spherical mirrors and a beam shifter, said laser pulse repetition rate multiplier positioned to receive input laser pulses from a laser such that said input laser pulses are directed into said optical cavity and exit said optical cavity as output laser pulses having an output pulse repetition rate that is at least two times that of the input laser pulses, wherein said optical cavity is configured such that each said laser pulse input from said laser is directed along a plurality of optical paths defined by said two spherical mirrors, wherein each of the plurality of optical paths passes through said beam shifter and said beam splitter, wherein the beam shifter is configured to laterally displace said each laser pulse directed along a first optical path of said plurality of optical paths to a second optical path of said plurality of optical paths, and wherein said beam splitter is configured to reflect portions of said laser pulses passing along said first and second optical paths such that said reflected portions respectively form first and second output laser pulses, said first output laser pulses being laterally displaced with respect to said second output laser pulses such that a time averaged output intensity of said first and second output laser pulses has a substantially flat profile in the direction of the lateral displacement.