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.

Provided are a laser and an optical apparatus including the same, the laser including a pump light source configured to generate pump light, a first outer gain medium configured to obtain a gain of seed laser light using the pump light, first and second curved mirrors configured to reflect the seed laser light into the first outer gain medium, a second outer gain medium configured to reobtain the gain of the seed laser light reflected by the first curved mirror and the second curved mirror, third and fourth curved mirrors provided at both sides of the second outer gain medium and configured to reflect the seed laser light into the second outer gain medium, and an inner gain medium provided between the first outer gain medium and the second outer gain medium and configured to reobtain the gain of the seed laser light.

Provided are a laser and an optical apparatus including the same, the laser including a pump light source configured to generate pump light, a first outer gain medium configured to obtain a gain of seed laser light using the pump light, first and second curved mirrors configured to reflect the seed laser light into the first outer gain medium, a second outer gain medium configured to reobtain the gain of the seed laser light reflected by the first curved mirror and the second curved mirror, third and fourth curved mirrors provided at both sides of the second outer gain medium and configured to reflect the seed laser light into the second outer gain medium, and an inner gain medium provided between the first outer gain medium and the second outer gain medium and configured to reobtain the gain of the seed laser light.

A passively, Q-switched laser is described. The laser may operate at an eye-safe lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO.sub.4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG with a space separating the gain element and saturable absorber element. The Q-switched laser is pumped by a grating stabilized laser diode. The laser may be used in laser ranging applications.

A passively, Q-switched laser is described. The laser may operate at an eye-safe lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO.sub.4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG with a space separating the gain element and saturable absorber element. The Q-switched laser is pumped by a grating stabilized laser diode. The laser may be used in laser ranging applications.

A laser ranging system comprising a passively, Q-switched laser that emits a series of output pulses to form an output beam is described. A time interval between successive output pulses in the series of output pulses varies to form a distinctive sequence of output pulses. The laser ranging system further comprises a detector and a processor configured to determine a distance to the target based on a time interval between an emitted output pulse in the series of output pulses and a return reflected signal received by the detector.

A laser ranging system comprising a passively, Q-switched laser that emits a series of output pulses to form an output beam is described. A time interval between successive output pulses in the series of output pulses varies to form a distinctive sequence of output pulses. The laser ranging system further comprises a detector and a processor configured to determine a distance to the target based on a time interval between an emitted output pulse in the series of output pulses and a return reflected signal received by the detector.