Patent ID: 6744790
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A61B,A61C,A61F,A61M,B23K

Abstract:
A device for attenuating thermal lensing in an optical resonator, comprising:a laser rod having an optical axis; a first high-reflectivity optical element disposed within a path of the optical axis; an outcoupling element disposed within a path of the optical axis; a second high-reflectivity element disposed within a path of the optical axis between the first high-reflectivity element and the outcoupling element, the laser rod being disposed between the outcoupling element and the second high-reflectivity element; and a potential source coupled to the second high-reflectivity element; wherein application of a first potential from the potential source onto the second high-reflectivity element causes the second high-reflectivity element to be substantially reflective and application of a second potential from the potential source onto the second high-reflectivity element causes the second high-reflectivity element to be substantially transmissive to thereby preserve a TEM00 beam quality within the optical resonator under varying thermal conditions.