Optical beam mode controlled laser system

Claim 1

An optical beam mode controlled high power laser system comprising: (a) a resonator, said resonator forming a resonant cavity and being defined by at least one reflective surface and a high efficiency diffraction grating in optical alignment with said reflective surface and means optically interposed between said reflective surface and said grating for containing a lasing medium therein; (b) a lasing medium located within said lasing medium containing means; (c) means operable with said lasing medium for initiating a lasing action therein in order to produce a coherent beam of high power radiant energy; (d) said grating being positioned with respect to said high power beam of radiant energy so as to receive said high power beam of radiant energy at a predetermined angle with respect thereto; (e) means optically aligned with said grating for producing a beam of low power coherent radiant energy at a preselected wavelength and directing said low power beam of radiant energy to said grating at a predetermined angle with respect thereto; whereby said grating directs therefrom a combined beam of radiant energy having high power and being locked to said preselected wavelength of said low power beam of radiant energy; and (f) means optically interposed between said lasing medium containing means and said grating for outcoupling from said resonant cavity said high power beam of radiant energy at said preselected wavelength as an output of said laser system; whereby said mode controlled high power laser system permits gain-switched spike suppression, control of cavity tuning and cavity mode selection.