Method and apparatus for standardizing optically pumped laser materials

Claim 1

A method of standardizing optically pumped laser materials, comprising the steps of: a. providing a light pumping lamp means of given output energy per unit length; b. defining an access area in given light coupling relationship with said lamp means for receiving laser material; c. defining a resonant optical cavity for said access area of given characteristics; and d. prohibiting substantially all reflected radiation from said lamp means from passing into said access area by at leAst the steps of (i) eliminating reflective laser head enclosures, (ii) providing sloping surfaces on guide rails which carry structural components defining said optical cavity to direct reflected light away from said laser material, and (iii) providing beveled surfaces on holders supporting said laser material to direct reflected light away from said laser material, whereby successive laser materials may be caused to operate as lasers under substantially identical conditions thereby enabling the laser materials to be categorized in accord with differences in their output characteristics.

Claim 2

A method of standardizing optically pumped laser materials, comprising the steps of: a. providing a light pumping lamp means of given output energy per unit length; b. defining an access area in given light coupling relationship with said lamp means for receiving laser material; c. defining a resonant optical cavity for said access area of given characteristics; and d. prohibiting substantially all reflected radiation from said lamp means from passing into said access area by at leAst the steps of (i) eliminating reflective laser head enclosures, (ii) providing sloping surfaces on guide rails which carry structural components defining said optical cavity to direct reflected light away from said laser material, and (iii) providing beveled surfaces on holders supporting said laser material to direct reflected light away from said laser material, whereby successive laser materials may be caused to operate as lasers under substantially identical conditions thereby enabling the laser materials to be categorized in accord with differences in their output characteristics.

Claim 3

A method of standardizing optically pumped laser materials, comprising the steps of: a. providing a given light pumping lamp means generating energy pulses of consistent pulse shape and duration; b. defining a first access area in fixed light coupling relationship with said lamp means for receiving laser material; c. defining a resonant optical cavity for said first access area of given characteristics; and d. prohibiting substantially all reflected radiation from said first lamp means from passing into said access area by at least the steps of (i) eliminating reflective laser head enclosures, (ii) providing sloping surfaces on guide rails which carry structural components defining said optical cavity to direct reflected light away from said laser material, and (iii) providing beveled surfaces on holders supporting said laser material to direct reflected light away from said laser material, whereby successive laser materials may be received in said access area and subjected to substantially identical light pumping conditions to cause stimulated emission of light, the output laser light of each material being monitored so that the laser material may be categorized in accordance with their output characteristics.

Claim 4

A method of standardizing optically pumped laser materials, comprising the steps of: a. providing a given light pumping lamp means generating energy pulses of consistent pulse shape and duration; b. defining a first access area in fixed light coupling relationship with said lamp means for receiving laser material; c. defining a resonant optical cavity for said first access area of given characteristics; and d. prohibiting substantially all reflected radiation from said first lamp means from passing into said access area by at least the steps of (i) eliminating reflective laser head enclosures, (ii) providing sloping surfaces on guide rails which carry structural components defining said optical cavity to direct reflected light away from said laser material, and (iii) providing beveled surfaces on holders supporting said laser material to direct reflected light away from said laser material, whereby successive laser materials may be received in said access area and subjected to substantially identical light pumping conditions to cause stimulated emission of light, the output laser light of each material being monitored so that the laser material may be categorized in accordance with their output characteristics.

Claim 6

An apparatus for standardizing optically pumped laser materials comprising, in combination, which combination does not include a reflective laser head enclosure: a. a light pump lamp means of given repeatable output energy; b. mounting means for supporting a laser material in light coupling relationship with said light pump lamp means; and c. first and second end mirrors supported on said mounting means in positions to define an optical resonant cavity for laser material when supported on said mounting means; d. said mounting means including (i) an elongated guiding rail having sides sloping away from its top surface to define a general triangular shape in cross-section so that any light from said lamp means striking the sides of said rail is reflected away from laser material when supported above said rail and (ii) laser material holding members having opposed beveled front surfaces surrounding the opposite ends of laser material when supported thereby so that light striking said beveled front surfaces is reflected away from laser material when said laser material is secured in said holding members, said light pump lamp means providing direct radiation over a given length parallel to said rail between said holding members, the energy per unit length being constant so that laser materials of different lengths received in said holding members are subject to the same light pumping conditions, whereby substantially anly direct radiation from said light pump lamp means is passed to said laser material and successive laser materials may be caused to operate as lasers under substantially identical conditions thereby enabling the laser materials to be categorized in accord with diffrences in their output characteristics.

Claim 7

An apparatus for standardizing optically pumped laser materials comprising, in combination, which combination does not include a reflective laser head enclosure: a. a light pump lamp means of given repeatable output energy; b. mounting means for supporting a laser material in light coupling relationship with said light pump lamp means; and c. first and second end mirrors supported on said mounting means in positions to define an optical resonant cavity for laser material when supported on said mounting means; d. said mounting means including (i) an elongated guiding rail having sides sloping away from its top surface to define a general triangular shape in cross-section so that any light from said lamp means striking the sides of said rail is reflected away from laser material when supported above said rail and (ii) laser material holding members having opposed beveled front surfaces surrounding the opposite ends of laser material when supported thereby so that light striking said beveled front surfaces is reflected away from laser material when said laser material is secured in said holding members, said light pump lamp means providing direct radiation over a given length parallel to said rail between said holding members, the energy per unit length being constant so that laser materials of different lengths received in said holding members are subject to the same light pumping conditions, whereby substantially anly direct radiation from said light pump lamp means is passed to said laser material and successive laser materials may be caused to operate as lasers under substantially identical conditions thereby enabling the laser materials to be categorized in accord with diffrences in their output characteristics.