A laser oscillation device can prevent a laser medium-circulating pipe from expanding. The laser oscillation device includes a resonator part, which has an introduction port, through which a laser medium is introduced, and a discharge port, from which the laser medium is discharged, and which generates a laser beam, a laser medium-circulating pipe having one end connected to the introduction port, and the other end connected to the discharge port, a blower arranged in the laser medium-circulating pipe, to circulate the laser medium so that the laser medium is introduced from the introduction port to the resonator part, and the laser medium introduced to the resonator part is discharged from the discharge port, and a heat-insulating mechanism which is provided in the laser medium-circulating pipe, to block heat conduction between the laser medium flowing through the laser medium-circulating pipe and the laser medium-circulating pipe.

Efficient laser diode excited Thulium (Tm) doped solid state systems, directly matched to a combination band pump transition of Carbon Dioxide (CO.sub.2), have matured to the point that utilization of such in combination with CO.sub.2 admits effectively a laser diode pumped CO.sub.2 laser. The laser diode excited Tm solid state pump permits Continuous Wave (CW) or pulsed energy application. Appropriate optical pumping admits catalyzer free near indefinite gas lifetime courtesy of the absence of significant discharge driven dissociation and contamination. As a direct consequence of the preceding arbitrary multi isotopologue CO.sub.2, symmetric and asymmetric, gas mixes may be utilized without significant degradation or departure from initial mix specifications. This would admit, at raised pressure, a system continuously tunable from 9 m to 1.5 m, or sub picosecond amplification. This methodology offers advantages in regards scalability, pulse energy and power over alternative non linear conversion techniques in access to this spectral region.

Gaseous laser systems and related techniques are disclosed. Techniques disclosed herein may be utilized, in accordance with some embodiments, in providing a gaseous laser system with a configuration that provides (A) pump illumination with distinct edge surfaces for an extended depth and (B) an output beam illumination from a resonator cavity with distinct edges in its reflectivity profile, thereby providing (C) pump beam and resonator beam illumination on a volume so that the distinct edge surfaces of its pump and resonator beam illumination are shared-edge surfaces with (D) further edge surfaces of the amplifier volume at the surfaces illuminated directly by the pump or resonator beams, as defined by optical windows and (optionally) by one or more flowing gas curtains depleted of the alkali vapor flowing along those optical windows. Techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, for example, in a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system, in accordance with some embodiments.

Gaseous laser systems and related techniques are disclosed. Techniques disclosed herein may be utilized, in accordance with some embodiments, in providing a gaseous laser system with a configuration that provides (A) pump illumination with distinct edge surfaces for an extended depth and (B) an output beam illumination from a resonator cavity with distinct edges in its reflectivity profile, thereby providing (C) pump beam and resonator beam illumination on a volume so that the distinct edge surfaces of its pump and resonator beam illumination are shared-edge surfaces with (D) further edge surfaces of the amplifier volume at the surfaces illuminated directly by the pump or resonator beams, as defined by optical windows and (optionally) by one or more flowing gas curtains depleted of the alkali vapor flowing along those optical windows. Techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, for example, in a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system, in accordance with some embodiments.

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for preserving optical surfaces (e.g., windows, coatings, etc.) in a flowing gas amplifier laser system, such as a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to protect optical surfaces in a DPAL system from: (1) chemical attack by pump-bleached alkali vapor atoms and/or ions; and/or (2) fouling by adherence thereto of reaction products/soot produced in the DPAL. Also, in some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to substantially match the geometry of the pumping volume with that of the lasing volume, thereby minimizing or otherwise reducing the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on DPAL output power. Furthermore, in some cases, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to provide a DPAL system capable of producing a beam output power in the range of about 20 kW to 10 MW, or greater.

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for managing alkali vapor concentration in a lasing gas at non-condensing levels. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to control and/or stabilize the concentration of alkali vapor in a lasing gas volume to any desired fraction of its saturation value under dynamically changing thermal loads. In some such instances, the concentration of alkali vapor in a given lasing gas volume can be maintained at a value which is sufficiently far from the saturation point to prevent or otherwise reduce condensation of the alkali vapor, for example, upon accelerating the lasing gas through a pressure drop into an optical pumping cavity of an alkali vapor laser system (e.g., such as a diode-pumped alkali laser, or DPAL, system). In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to establish a temperature gradient and/or an alkali vapor concentration gradient in the flowing lasing gas volume.

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for managing alkali vapor concentration in a lasing gas at non-condensing levels. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to control and/or stabilize the concentration of alkali vapor in a lasing gas volume to any desired fraction of its saturation value under dynamically changing thermal loads. In some such instances, the concentration of alkali vapor in a given lasing gas volume can be maintained at a value which is sufficiently far from the saturation point to prevent or otherwise reduce condensation of the alkali vapor, for example, upon accelerating the lasing gas through a pressure drop into an optical pumping cavity of an alkali vapor laser system (e.g., such as a diode-pumped alkali laser, or DPAL, system). In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to establish a temperature gradient and/or an alkali vapor concentration gradient in the flowing lasing gas volume.

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for preserving optical surfaces (e.g., windows, coatings, etc.) in a flowing gas amplifier laser system, such as a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to protect optical surfaces in a DPAL system from: (1) chemical attack by pump-bleached alkali vapor atoms and/or ions; and/or (2) fouling by adherence thereto of reaction products/soot produced in the DPAL. Also, in some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to substantially match the geometry of the pumping volume with that of the lasing volume, thereby minimizing or otherwise reducing the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on DPAL output power. Furthermore, in some cases, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to provide a DPAL system capable of producing a beam output power in the range of about 20 kW to 10 MW, or greater.

A laser and methods for providing a continuous wave output beam. The laser and method includes positioning a micro-plasma chip capable of creating micro-plasmas within a resonant cavity. A gas is input into the resonant cavity and flows around the micro-plasma chip. Micro-plasmas ignite and excite the gas to create metastables. The metastables are further excited by an optical pump having an energy sufficient to cause the metastables to lase.

A laser and methods for providing a continuous wave output beam. The laser and method includes positioning a micro-plasma chip capable of creating micro-plasmas within a resonant cavity. A gas is input into the resonant cavity and flows around the micro-plasma chip. Micro-plasmas ignite and excite the gas to create metastables. The metastables are further excited by an optical pump having an energy sufficient to cause the metastables to lase.