Patent ID: 7756186
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A laser comprising a laser gain medium, the laser gain medium being positioned within a standing wave unstable optical resonator supporting a forward and reverse standing wave resonator mode and a corresponding forward and reverse mode volume, the resonator having a longitudinal optical resonator axis, the longitudinal resonator axis connecting at least first, second and third resonator mirrors, the first and second resonator mirrors forming a beam expansion segment for the forward standing wave resonator mode and the third resonator mirror being located near but spaced from the second resonator mirror and disposed to reflect all of a predetermined fraction of the forward standing wave mode into the reverse standing wave mode volume, and wherein the remainder of the predetermined fraction of the forward standing wave resonator mode passing between the second and third resonator mirrors is diffractively outcoupled from the resonator and wherein said third mirror is planar permitting adjustment of the amount of light coupled out of the resonator by adjusting the position of the third mirror with respect to the second mirror thereby changing the spacing between the second and third mirrors.