Patent ID: 6052396
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A laser apparatus, said laser aparatus including a high energy laser gain module capable of generating a high energy laser beam in an environment and concurrently producing heat generating unlased radiation, said high energy laser gain module comprising:a laser gain medium that is excited by heat generating radiation sources, said laser gain medium being disposed within said environment;said laser apparatus further including:first and second resonator mirrors supported in said environment independent of said laser gain medium and spaced from said laser gain medium by portions of said environment, said first mirror being located proximate one end of said laser medium, and said second resonator mirror being located proximate an opposite end of said laser medium and being partially transmissive for permitting transmission of a laser beam emitted by said laser medium into said environment;heat shield means for enclosing said gain medium and preventing said unlased radiation from escaping into said environment, while permitting radiation to access said mirrors, whereby said unlased radiation is absorbed in said heat shield means in the form of heat, said heat shield means comprising a heat conductive metal enclosure; andactive heat removal means for removing the heat absorbed in said heat shield means.