Patent ID: 6347101
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: B33Y,H01S

Abstract:
A solid state laser system comprising:a laser cavity having an optical axis passing through the laser cavity; a solid state gain medium having a width in a transverse direction, the solid state gain medium having an absorption depth at a pumping wavelength less than the width in the transverse direction, the optical axis passing through the solid state gain medium; and at least one semiconductor laser having an output at the pumping wavelength, the at least one semiconductor laser positioned to direct a beam of light to the solid state gain medium in a side pumping configuration, the laser cavity defining a laser mode of the solid state laser positioned at a mode depth so that the laser mode is spaced from a surface of the solid state gain medium and a width of the laser mode is between about one-half and two times the absorption length of the solid state gain medium at a pumping wave length.