摘要 |
A laser device and methods of lasing, the laser device comprising a chamber containing a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises solid-state portions containing active laser ion suspended within a fluid which exhibits a refractive index which is substantially similar to that of the solid-state portions. In a variation, the gain medium is flowed through the volume, cooled externally of the volume and then flowed back through volume. In preferred form, the solid state portions are either naturally suspended within the fluid or are suspended by flow within the fluid. Thus, laser devices are provided in which the laser and the coolant are homogenized into a single gain medium exhibiting thermal properties of a liquid laser but with solid state gain material in order to produce high energy and high average power.
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