Patent ID: 6081542
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A solid state laser system, comprising:a resonant cavity including a retro-reflecting optical element;a gain medium disposed in the resonant cavity and having at least a first and a second pair of opposing facets;a plurality of optical pump sources each producing an optical pump output that is incident upon one of the facets for exciting the gain medium to amplify an intracavity light beam that travels through the resonant cavity;wherein the resonant cavity and gain medium are oriented so that, during a single trip through the resonant cavity, the beam makes at least a first and a second pass through the gain medium, and wherein during the first pass, the beam enters and exits the gain medium through the first pair of opposing facets, and during the second pass the beam enters and exits the gain medium through the second pair of opposing facets.