Transmissive optics for high power lasers

Claim 1

An optical device used to transmit a high power laser beam, the improved feature comprising: first and second transparent optical elements said first optical element having first and second optical surfaces said second optical element having optical surfaces designated third and fourth optical surfaces said first optical element has a clear aperture with a transverse dimension D said second optical element has a clear aperture with a transverse dimension d said first and second optical elements positioned such that said second optical surface and said third optical surface are separated by a predetermined distance T thereby forming a channel between said first and second optical elements said predetermined distance T is small compared to both said dimensions D and d said optical device also has first and second chambers which are generally positioned on opposite sides of said channel formed by said second and third optical surfaces said first chamber is pressurized with a gas at a predetermined pressure P1 said second chamber is at a pressure P2 said pressure P1 is substantially greater than said pressure P2 such that said gas rapidly flows in said channel formed by said second and third optical surfaces said laser beam is transmitted through said first and second optical element thereby resulting in heat being deposited in said first and second optical elements said rapidly flowing gas cools said second and third optical surfaces thereby providing the primary source of heat removal from said first and second optical elements.