Patent ID: 6373864
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A laser system for emitting pulsed electromagnetic laser radiation, said laser system comprising:a microchip laser for emitting pulsed laser radiation, said microchip laser comprising two reflective elements defining an optical resonator for laser radiation, a laser gain medium placed inside said resonator and a saturable absorber medium placed inside said resonator for passively Q-switching said laser radiation, said reflective elements, said gain medium and said saturable absorber medium being rigidly and irreversibly bonded such as to form a monolithic body, and a first pumping source for emitting first pumping radiation which impinges on said monolithic body and excites said gain medium to emit laser radiation; and an optical amplifier stage for amplifying electromagnetic radiation, said amplifier stage comprising an amplifying medium and a second pumping source for emitting second pumping radiation which impinges on said amplifying medium and excites it to amplify electromagnetic radiation; said microchip laser and said optical amplifier being mutually arranged& such that pulsed laser radiation emitted by said microchip laser is amplified by said optical ampifier.