Patent ID: 7310360

Claim:
An optical assembly for use in a high average power laser system, comprising: a transparent optical component (TOC) a thermally conductive substrate having a face; said TOC and said thermally conductive substrate both being immersed in an atmosphere; an O-ring disposed between said TOC and said thermally conductive substrate, said O-ring being disposed in a groove formed in one of said TOC and said thermally conductive substrate; said face of said TOC being in contact with said face of said thermally conductive substrate thereby defining a contact area; at least a portion of said contact area being maintained at a reduced pressure within an area circumscribed by said O-ring, such that a pressure differential is created between said portion of said contact area and the atmosphere; said pressure differential adapted to compress said O-ring and to maintain a substantial portion of TOC face in a thermal contact with a substantial portion of said thermally conductive substrate face so that heat generated within the TOC can be transmitted by conduction into said thermally conductive substrate.