摘要 |
A total internal reflection face-pumped laser (10) has two or more elongate parallel spaced-apart hosts (20, 30). A flash lamp (40, 41) adjacent the outer surface (21, 32) of each host pumps the laser asymmetrically. Coolant fluid is passed over the host surfaces through inlet nozzles (80, 81, 82) and exit ports (90). A greater flow of coolant is passed over the outer surfaces (21, 32) adjacent the pumping lamps (40, 41) than over the inner mutually adjacent surfaces (22, 31) of the hosts, thereby providing asymmetric cooling to compensate for the asymmetric heating caused by the asymmetric face-pumping. Thermally induced bending of the hosts is thereby reduced permitting the average power output of the laser to be increased without distortion. |