Patent ID: 6901102
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A self-compensating laser resonator comprising: a first reflecting apparatus having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface disposed at a right angle to each other and intersecting at a first ridge line; a second reflecting apparatus having a third reflecting surface and a fourth reflecting surface disposed at a right angle to each other and intersecting at a second ridge line, said second reflecting apparatus facing said first reflecting apparatus such that the first through fourth reflecting surfaces are facing each other; a laser medium provided between said first reflecting surface and said third reflecting surface; and a light source for exciting said laser medium, wherein the first ridge line is substantially orthogonal to the second ridge line where a laser beam emanating from said laser medium travels along an optical path to said first reflecting surface and is successively reflected, along an optical path, by said first, second, third, fourth, second, first, fourth and third reflecting surfaces to again enter said laser medium, said laser medium being positioned with respect to said first and second reflecting apparatus so that three reflections occur without the laser beam emitted therefrom passing through the laser medium, wherein the laser beam contains a P-polarization and an S-polarization component, said resonator further having a polarizing reflecting element for selectively allowing to pass a first portion of said P-polarization component and a second portion of said S-polarization component, where the non-passed portions are reflected, said polarizing reflecting element positioned in an optical path of said laser beam, and further having a polarization component adjusting device for dividing said laser beam into said P-polarization component and said S-polarization component at an arbitrary ratio, said polarization adjusting device being positioned in an optical path of said laser beam.