Composite glass laser rod

Claim 2

A laser rod comprising an annulus of laser material having a radial thickness at least on the order of 1 millimeter, a cylindrical core within said annulus contiguous therewith, the material of said core adjacent to the interface between said core and said annulus being light-transmissive and being of a lower index of refraction than the laser material in said annulus to thereby make said interface reflective to laser light within said annulus whereby a laser light ray traveling generally parallel with the axis of said annulus through said annulus and focused toward said axis by thermal lensing in said annulus experiences total internal reflection at said interface to maintain said laser light ray within said annulus.

Claim 3

A laser rod comprising an annulus of laser material, a cylindrical core of laser material within said annulus contiguous therewith, the material of said core adjacent to the interface between said annulus and said core having a lower index of refraction than the laser material in said annulus to thereby make said interface reflective to laser ligHt within said annulus whereby a laser light ray traveling generally parallel with the axis of said annulus through said annulus and focused toward said axis by thermal lensing in said annulus experiences total internal reflection at said interface to maintain said laser light ray within said annulus.

Claim 4

A laser rod comprising a plurality of contiguous annuli of laser material, a cylindrical core within said annuli and contiguous with the innermost annulus of said annuli, the material of said core adjacent to the interface between said core and said innermost annulus being light-transmissive and being of a lower index of refraction than the laser material in said innermost annulus to thereby make said interface reflective to laser light within said innermost annulus, said annuli having increasing higher indices of refraction progressing outwardly from the axis of the laser rod, whereby a laser light ray traveling generally parallel with the axis of said annuli through one of said annuli and focused toward said axis by thermal lensing in such annulus experiences total internal reflection at the interface at the inner edge of said annulus to maintain said laser light ray within such annulus.

Claim 5

A laser rod as recited in claim 3 wherein said cylindrical core is lossy material inhibiting laser emissions passing therethrough.

Claim 6

A laser rod as recited in claim 4 wherein the laser material of said annulus and said core is glass and wherein said annulus and said core have different levels of doping to achieve different indices of refraction in said core and said annulus.

Claim 7

A laser rod as recited in claim 5 wherein the laser material of said annuli is glass and wherein said annuli have different levels of doping to achieve said different indices of refraction.

Claim 8

A laser rod as recited in claim 5 wherein said core is made of laser material.

Claim 9

A laser rod as recited in claim 5 wherein said core is made of lossy material to inhibit laser emissions passing therethrough.

Claim 10

A laser system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means to cause laser rays to pass through said annulus comprises means defining a laser cavity passing through said annulus parallel to the axis of said annulus.