Patent ID: 8432943
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A laser beam combiner, comprising: a pair of concentric annular shells defining an annular cavity having a long axis, annular interior wall surfaces and reflective elements disposed at opposite ends thereof so as to define an annular ring resonator; an annular solid laser gain medium disposed in the cavity of the resonator; and, a plurality of fiber lasers having output ends coupled into the cavity of the resonator and operable to output respective beams of laser light into the cavity so as to effect a population inversion in the gain medium and thereby cause the gain medium to lase and produce an axially directed annular beam of laser light, wherein at least one of the reflective elements of the resonator is operable to reflect a first portion of the laser light back through the resonator cavity and to couple off a second portion of the laser light in the form of a circular beam of laser light.