An improved dental laser system has been developed to cut enamel quickly and precisely, without detrimental residual energy, to provide a replacement for conventional high speed rotary burrs and commercially available dental laser systems.

A control system for controlling a laser, comprising a sensor for sensing a physical value indicative of a characteristic of a laser beam emitted by the laser, a switch, a first controller and a second controller. Each controller is configured, to receive a further sensor value from the sensor, adjust a received setpoint value based on the received further sensor value to give an output value and cause the laser to operate in accordance with the output value. The switch is configured to switch between the controllers such that output values are provided from each controller in a cyclic fashion.

A control device that can apply a laser oscillator control device to various types of systems. The control device includes an analog signal input unit configured to receive an output control signal for controlling a laser output of the laser oscillator or a mode control signal for controlling an operation mode of the laser oscillator as an analog signal; a digital signal input unit configured to receive the output control signal or the mode control signal as a digital signal; and a controller configured to transmit a laser command for controlling the laser output to the laser oscillator in response to the output control signal received by the analog signal input unit or the digital signal input unit, and transmit an operation command for operating the laser oscillator to the laser oscillator in the operation mode in response to the mode control signal received by the analog signal input unit or the digital signal input unit.

An excimer laser apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a chamber configured to accommodate a laser gas and a pair of electrodes and generate pulse-oscillating laser light when the gas pressure of the laser gas is controlled in accordance with voltage applied between the pair of electrodes, a power supply configured to apply the voltage between the pair of electrodes, and a controller to which a target value of the spectral linewidth of the laser light is inputted, the controller configured to correct the voltage used to control the gas pressure, when the target value changes from a first target value to a second target value, based on a first function having the second target value as a parameter and control the gas pressure in accordance with the corrected voltage.

A system includes an optical source configured to emit a pulsed light beam, the optical source comprising one or more chambers, each of the one or more chambers configured to hold a gaseous gain medium, the gaseous gain medium being associated with an assumed gas life; at least one detection module configured to: receive and analyze data related to the pulsed light beam, and produce a beam quality metric based on the data related to the pulsed light beam; and a monitoring module configured to: analyze the beam quality metric, determine a health status of the gaseous gain medium based on the analysis of the beam quality metric, and produce a status signal based on the determined health status, the status signal indicating whether to extend use of the gaseous gain medium beyond the assumed gas life or to end use of the gaseous gain medium.

A system includes an optical source configured to emit a pulsed light beam, the optical source comprising one or more chambers, each of the one or more chambers configured to hold a gaseous gain medium, the gaseous gain medium being associated with an assumed gas life; at least one detection module configured to: receive and analyze data related to the pulsed light beam, and produce a beam quality metric based on the data related to the pulsed light beam; and a monitoring module configured to: analyze the beam quality metric, determine a health status of the gaseous gain medium based on the analysis of the beam quality metric, and produce a status signal based on the determined health status, the status signal indicating whether to extend use of the gaseous gain medium beyond the assumed gas life or to end use of the gaseous gain medium.

A radio-frequency excited carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) or carbon monoxide (CO) gas laser includes two electrodes, which have passivated surfaces, within a sealed housing. Features in a ceramic slab or a ceramic cylinder located between the electrodes define a gain volume. Surfaces of the ceramic slab or the ceramic cylinder are separated from the passivated surfaces of the electrodes by small gaps to prevent abrasion thereof. Reducing compressive forces that secure these components within the housing further reduces abrasion, thereby extending the operational lifetime of the gas laser.

A multi-pass coaxial molecular gas laser is described in both symmetrical and asymmetrical configuration. An anode vessel receives lasing gas and the gas flows through one or more plasma channels to a cathode vessel which receives the gas and redirects it in the closed system. A second anode vessel may alternatively be provided to double length of the plasma channel and increase surface area exposure of the optical beam to the energized gas. Non-laminar gas flow may be created using spiral nozzles at the entrance of the optical resonator.

Online calibration of laser performance as a function of the repetition rate at which the laser is operated is disclosed. The calibration can be periodic and carried out during a scheduled during a non-exposure period. Various criteria can be used to automatically select the repetition rates that result in reliable in-spec performance. The reliable values of repetition rates are then made available to the scanner as allowed values and the laser/scanner system is then permitted to use those allowed repetition rates.

To cool a capacitor including a first electrode and a second electrode, a capacitor cooling structure includes: a conducting part electrically connected with the first electrode; an insulating part that has a first surface including a first position and a second surface including a second position, and is connected with the conducting part at the first position; a first fastening part configured to fasten the conducting part and the insulating part to each other; and a cooling part connected with the second position facing the first position, the conducting part and the cooling part being electrically insulated from each other by the insulating part.