Compact end-pumped solid-state laser

Claim 2

The laser assembly recited in claim 2 in which the optical source comprises at least one incoherent light emitting diode enclosed in a dome having a refractive index for the incoherent radiation which is greater than that of the laser rod at the pumping wavelength and in which the refractive index of the optical coupling region between the rod and the diode is no greater than that of the rod along a substantial portion of the region in which the incoherent radiation propagates from the diode to the rod, said diode having a largest diameter (in any direction perpendicular to the axis of the rod) which is approximately equal to the diameter of the rod multiplied by the ratio of the refractive index of the coupling region contiguous to the dome to the refractive index of the dome.

Claim 3

The laser assembly recited in claim 3 in which the cross section of the incoherent optical radiation, at the location thereof on the pumping input side where the refractive index becomes no greater than that of the laser rod, has a cross section approximately equal to the cross section of the input end of the laser rod.

Claim 4

A laser assembly which comprises: a. a solid laser rod having a length which is of the orDer of the absorption length averaged over the pumping band, said rod being of a material which can generate coherent optical radiation by means of incoherent optical radiation applied thereto; b. an optical source of the incoherent radiation; c. coupling means for optically transmitting the incoherent radiation from the optical source to an end cross-section surface of the rod, said optical source and said coupling means each having a cross section (whereat the incoherent optical radiation propagates from the source to the rod) whose largest diameter is no greater than the largest diameter of the rod, said optical source providing an intensity of incoherent radiation transmitted by the coupling means to the rod which is sufficient to stimulate the laser rod to emit the coherent optical radiation.

Claim 5

The assembly recited in claim 5 in which the laser rod is essentially neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet.

Claim 6

The assembly recited in claim 6 in which the laser rod is doped with approximately one atomic percent neodymium and in which the laser rod has a length of approximately 5 millimeters.

Claim 7

The assembly recited in claim 6 in which the laser rod is doped with approximately one atomic percent neodymium and in which the incoherent optical source comprises at least one semiconductor light emitting diode which supplies incoherent pumping radiation centered at a wavelength of approximately 8,050 angstroms.

Claim 8

The assembly recited in claim 8 in which at least one diode is a gallium aluminum arsenide incoherent light emitting diode.

Claim 9

The assembly recited in claim 8 in which at least one diode is a gallium arsenide phosphide incoherent light emitting diode.