MULTI-JET IMPINGEMENT COOLED SLAB LASER PUMPHEAD AND METHOD

摘要

A system for removing waste energy in the form of sensible heat and fluorescent energy from a solid state laser medium (34) having a broad surface. The system includes a manifold (60) disposed about the laser medium (34) having a plurality of inlet jets (66) interspersed with a plurality of exhaust orifices (64). Coolant fluid is circulated through the manifold (60). The fluid is forced through the plurality of inlet jets (66) to impinge the broad face of the laser medium (34), thereby transferring waste energy by convection from the laser medium (34) to the coolant fluid. The coolant fluid is further circulated to exhaust the pumphead manifold (60) through the plurality of exhaust orifices (64). The fluorescent energy, which is radiated from the laser medium (34), is converted to sensible heat by an absorber (72) disposed within the coolant adjacent to the laser medium (34). The coolant then removes the converted heat by forced convection. The absorber (72) can be suspended particles in the coolant fluid or a porous material supported in the manifold (60) at some distance from the laser medium (34).