Microchannel cooler for a single laser diode emitter based system

摘要

A laser system that allows transverse arrangement of laser emitters around a laser medium. The system includes a laser medium with a coolant source and electrical controls. A pump layer has a mounting surface, an opposite bottom surface and a center aperture through which the laser medium is inserted. Laser diode emitters are disposed on the mounting surface circumferentially around the laser medium. An intermediate layer has at least one radial channel in fluid communication with the coolant conduit. The intermediate layer is in contact with the bottom surface. A middle layer has micro-channels formed therethrough and a center aperture. The micro-channels are radially arranged around the center aperture and the middle layer is in contact with the intermediate layer. The coolant source is fluidly coupled to the micro-channels to allow coolant to be directed through the microchannels and the radial channel to impinge on the bottom surface.

主权项

1. A micro channel cooled laser apparatus, comprising:
a laser medium having a central axis; a pump layer having a mounting surface, an opposite bottom surface and a center aperture through which the laser medium is inserted; a plurality of laser diode emitters disposed on the mounting surface of the pump layer circumferentially around the laser medium and emitting light directed at the laser medium; an intermediate layer having at least one radial channel, the intermediate layer in contact with the bottom surface of the pump layer; a middle layer having a plurality of micro-channels formed therethrough and a center aperture, the micro-channels being arranged around the center aperture, the middle layer in contact with the intermediate layer; and a coolant source fluidly coupled to the micro-channels via a conduit to allow coolant to be directed from the conduit through the micro-channels, wherein the micro-channels have a substantially smaller cross-section for coolant flow than the conduit to direct the coolant in a direction generally parallel to the central axis of the laser medium to form coolant jets to impinge on the bottom surface of the pump layer and flow through the at least one radial channel after impinging on the bottom surface.