Optically pumped CW semiconductor ring laser

Claim 1

An optically pumped semiconductor ring laser comprising: a ring-shaped resonant cavity defined by a plurality of optically aligned reflective elements, one of said reflective elements being partially transmissive in order to permit the passage of a laser beam therethrough; a semiconductor lasing medium mounted within said ring-shaped resonant cavity; means for mounting said semiconductor lasing medium within said ring-shaped resonant cavity in such a manner to permit the passing of said laser beam through said semiconductor lasing medium; means for providing a vacuum and temperature controlled environment surrounding said semiconductor lasing medium, said vacuum and temperature controlling means permitting the passage of said laser beam therethrough; means for providing a beam of electromagnetic radiation for pumping said semiconductor lasing medium of said ring laser; means for directing said pump beam into said ring-shaped resonant cavity; focusing/defocusing means optically aligned with said semiconductor lasing medium for focusing said pump beam onto said lasing medium and for focusing said laser beam onto said semiconductor lasing medium and for defocusing said laser beam exiting from said semiconductor lasing medium; whereby said pump beam initiates a lasing action within said ring-shaped resonant cavity to produce said laser beam, said laser beam producing a pair of outputs, said outputs exiting from said resonant cavity through said partially transmissive reflective element of said ring-shaped resonant cavity.