Flat-Folded Ceramic Slab Lasers

摘要

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a laser may include a ceramic body defining a chamber containing a laser gas. The chamber may include first and second slab waveguide sections extending along parallel first and second axes and a third slab waveguide section extending along a perpendicular third axis. Respective first ends of the first and second slab waveguide sections may be positioned adjacent opposite ends of the third slab waveguide section. The laser may also include first and second end mirrors positioned at respective second ends of the first and second slab waveguide sections, a first fold mirror positioned near an intersection of the first and third axes at a 45-degree angle to both the first and third axes, and a second fold mirror positioned near an intersection of the second and third axes at a 45-degree angle to both the second and third axes, such that the first, second, and third slab waveguide sections waveguide recirculating light that is polarized orthogonal to a plane defined by the first, second, and third axes.

主权项

1. A laser comprising:
a ceramic body defining a chamber containing a laser gas, the chamber comprising a first slab waveguide section extending along a first axis, a second slab waveguide section extending along a second axis, and third slab waveguide section extending along a third axis, wherein the first and second axes are parallel to one another, the third axis is perpendicular to both the first and second axes, and respective first ends of the first and second slab waveguide sections are positioned adjacent opposite ends of the third slab waveguide section; a first end mirror positioned at a second end of the first slab waveguide section that is opposite the first end of the first slab waveguide section; a second end mirror positioned at a second end of the second slab waveguide section that is opposite the first end of the second slab waveguide section; a first fold mirror positioned near an intersection of the first and third axes at a 45-degree angle to both the first and third axes; and a second fold mirror positioned near an intersection of the second and third axes at a 45-degree angle to both the second and third axes; wherein the first, second, and third slab waveguide sections are configured to waveguide recirculating light that is polarized orthogonal to a plane defined by the first, second, and third axes.