Semielliptical pump cavity

Claim 2

A laser pump cavity structure for focusing optical frequency pump energy radiation from a single linear pumping lamp at a solid-state active laser rod, comprising: a first pump cavity body section having a longitudinal and highly specularly reflective semielliptical surface which defines two parallel focal lines in a plane including the major axis of said semielliptical surface; and a second pump cavity body section having relatively high thermal conducting characteristics adjacent said first body section to enclose said semielliptical surface along the extremities thereof parallel to its longitudinal dimension, said second body section having a relatively flat inner surface wherein laser-rod- and pump-lamp-carrying longitudinal grooves are disposed in a position substantially coaxial with said two focal lines, said second body section also having a rodclamping portion as part of the sidewall of one of said grooves and extending above said relatively flat surface to enclose and hold said laser rod in thermal and mechanical contact with said second body section for over 50 percent of its peripheral surface.

Claim 3

A laser pump cavity structure for focusing optical frequency pump energy radiation from single linear pumping lamp at a solid-state active laser rod, comprising: a first pump cavity body section having a longitudinal and highly specularly reflective semielliptical surface which defines two parallel focal lines in a plane including the major axis of said semielliptical surface; and a second pump cavity body section having relatively high thermal conducting characteristics adjacent said first body section to enclose said semielliptical surface along the extremities thereof parallel to its longitudinal dimension, said second body section having a relatively flat inner surface wherein laser rod and pump-lamp-carrying longitudinal grooves are disposed in positions each substantially coaxial with respective ones of said two focal lines, said second body section also having a rod-clamping portion and a lamp-clamping portion as part of the sidewalls of said grooves, said clamping portions extending above said surface to enclose and hold said laser rod and said lamp in thermal and mechanical contact with said second body section for over 50 percent of their peripheral surfaces.

Claim 4

A laser pump cavity structure for focusing optical frequency pump energy radiation from single linear pumping lamp at a solid-state active laser rod, comprising: a first pump cavity body section having a longitudinal and highly specularly reflective semielliptical surface which defines two parallel focal lines in a plane including the major axis of said semielliptical surface; and a second pump cavity body section having relatively high thermal conducting characteristics adjacent said first body section to enclose said semielliptical surface along the extremities thereof parallel to its longitudinal dimension, said second body section having a relatively flat inner surface wherein laser rod and pump-lamp-carrying longitudinal grooves are disposed in positions each substantially coaxial with respective ones of said two focal lines, said second body section also having a rod-clamping portion and a lamp-clamping portion as part of the sidewalls of said grooves, said clamping portions extending above said surface to enclose and hold said laser rod and said lamp in thermal and mechanical contact with said second body section for over 50 percent of their peripheral surfaces.

Claim 5

A laser pump cavity structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surfaces of said grooves are highly specularly reflective.

Claim 6

A laser pump cavity structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said grooves are highly specularly reflective.

Claim 7

A laser pump cavity structure according to claim 2, wherein said second section further comprises two major portions thermally insulated from each other, each portion carrying different ones of said grooves.