Patent ID: 7630418
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: A61B,A61C,A61N,B23K,G02F,H01S

Abstract:
1. A method of producing high power picosecond (ps) mid-infrared (IR) laser pulses having a wavelength λ 3 between 2 and 15 μm, comprising the steps of: a) producing high energy pump pulses with a wavelength λ b) producing a low power continuous wave (CW) laser beam, having a power in a range between about 1 to about 100 mW, with a wavelength λ c) directing, focusing and combining said pump pulses and said CW laser beam in such a way that they have substantial spatial overlap, and directing the combined pump pulses and CW laser beam into at least one optical parametric amplifier each having at least one bulk non-linear optical crystal, without said CW laser beam passing through an optical parametric oscillator before entering said optical parametric amplifier, with the peak intensity of the pump pulses sufficient such that high energy picosecond mid-IR pulses at wavelength λ d) directing said high energy picosecond mid-IR pulses at wavelength λ