Patent ID: 8304752

Claim:
A method comprising: supplying pump energy to a gain medium of at least one optical amplifier of a gas laser system to cause a population inversion in the gain medium and to produce an amplified light beam, wherein the at least one optical amplifier operates at an operating wavelength; directing the amplified light beam toward one or more optical components associated with the gas laser system, wherein each optical component at which the amplified light beam is directed is associated with a wavelength range that encompasses the operating wavelength of the at least one optical amplifier; directing a guide laser beam from a guide laser having a guide wavelength toward the optical components, so that the guide laser beam traces the path of the amplified light beam toward the optical components; and aligning the optical components using the directed guide laser beam; wherein the guide wavelength is distinct from the operating wavelength and is within the wavelength range of each of the optical components at which the amplified light beam is directed.