Method and device for preconditioning a laser having a solid state gain medium.

摘要

For preventing premature optics burn-out in a laser having a solid gain medium (10) the gain medium (10) is preheated by supplying power at a level which is sufficient to set up a thermal lens (18), yet insufficient to cause substantial production of laser light. In one approach, a simmer routine is overlaid on a ramp routine, so that the power supplied to the gain medium (10) is gradually increased during the warm-up period. The power is supplied by flash lamps (21) and is controlled by a programmable control unit (23). <IMAGE>