Patent ID: 8467425
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for generating high-energy, high repetition rate laser pulses using a continuous wave amplifier, the method comprising: a. providing an oscillator producing an initial pulsed laser beam, the beam having a beam path and an initial beam pulse energy; b. providing sequentially along said beam path a first optical isolator, an electro-optical modulator, a first wave plate, a polarizer, a second optical isolator, a second wave plate, two mirrors, a first continuous wave amplifier, and a high reflector; c. providing a phase-locking system that synchronizes the initial pulsed laser beam with the electro-optical modulator; d. passing the pulsed laser beam along the beam path through the electro-optical modulator and through said first continuous wave amplifier thereby amplifying the pulsed laser beam a first time; and e. reflecting said pulsed laser beam with said high reflector thereby passing said pulsed laser beam in an opposite direction along said beam path whereby said laser beam passes through said first continuous wave amplifier a second time to produce a pulsed laser beam having a higher pulse energy than said initial pulsed laser beam.