Patent ID: 7050474
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method of providing high peak power in a pulse laser system, comprising: providing a low-power, pulsed seed beam; providing a pumped gain medium between cavity mirrors for creating a pumped region in the pumped gain medium; directing the seed beam through a central portion of the pumped region in the pumped gain medium for a plurality of non-collinear pre-amplification passes to produce an intermediate beam wherein the beam diameter of the pre-amplification passes is small in the pumped gain medium; changing the beam diameter of the intermediate beam to produce a re-collimated intermediate beam having a beam diameter in the pumped gain medium that is large; and using retro mirrors in combination with the cavity mirrors for directing the re-collimated intermediate beam through a central portion of the pumped region of the pumped gain medium for at least one non-collinear power amplification pass to produce a high-power output beam.