Patent ID: 8514901

Claim:
A thermal energy transfer apparatus that removes thermal energy from a disk-shaped gain medium crystal of a laser system, the apparatus comprising: a silicon-based manifold that has internal coolant flow channels, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein: the first side includes coolant inlet ports and coolant outlet ports communicatively connected to the internal coolant flow channels, and the second side is substantially flat to provide surface area to contact with a first primary surface of the crystal; and a silicon-based cover element that has an opening to expose a portion of a second primary surface of the crystal that is opposite the first primary surface of the crystal when the crystal is mounted between the cover element and the manifold, wherein the cover element comprises: a first plate made of silicon, the first plate having an opening smaller than an area of the second primary surface of the crystal to expose a portion of the second primary surface of the crystal; and a second plate made of silicon, the second plate having an opening larger than the area of the second primary surface of the crystal and shaped to at least partially circumscribe the crystal with the crystal contacting a plurality of points of the opening of the second plate when the crystal is mounted between the cover element and the manifold.