Patent ID: 6810060
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A solid-state laser module for amplification of laser radiation comprising:a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, said front surface of said substrate having a plurality of channels formed therein; a plurality of discrete laser gain medium elements, each of said laser gain medium elements having a front surface, a back surface, and a peripheral edge surface, said back surfaces of said laser gain medium elements being in contact with said front surface of said substrate; a source of optical pump radiation for directing optical pump radiation into said plurality of laser gain medium elements; wherein said channels are maintained at a reduced pressure such that a pressure differential is created between said front surface and said back surface of each said laser gain medium to thereby maintain each said laser gain medium element secured against said front surface of said substrate; wherein each of said plurality of laser gain medium elements are placed closely adjacent one another such that a peripheral edge of each is positioned closely adjacent a peripheral edge of another one of said laser gain medium elements; wherein at least one of said laser gain medium elements has an optical coating on said back surface thereof to provide high reflectivity at a lasing wavelength of said laser gain medium elements; wherein at least one of said laser gain medium elements has an optical coating on said front surface thereof, said coating being antireflective at a lasing wavelength of said laser gain medium element; wherein said substrate is cooled; wherein a material suitable for absorption of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is affixed to at least one part of a peripheral edge of at least one of said laser gain medium elements; wherein at least two of said laser pain medium elements are bonded along their adjacent edges with said material suitable for absorption of amplified spontaneous emission therebetween; and wherein said bond is produced by a method chosen from a group consisting of fusion bonding, diffusion bonding, and optical contacting followed by a heat treatment.