Laser system with isolated optical cavity

Abstract

In various embodiments, laser resonator modules produce output beams via manipulation of input beams on opposite sides of the module. The input beams are emitted by one or more beam emitters that may be cooled using a liquid coolant cavity. The liquid coolant cavity may be isolated from optical elements utilized to manipulate the input beams, at least in part, by an isolation wall protruding from the base plate of the resonator module.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A laser resonator comprising:
 a base plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;   disposed on the first side of the base plate, (i) a mounting area configured to receive a plurality of beam emitters, and (ii) a first optical cavity for manipulation of beams emitted by the beam emitters; and   a second optical cavity disposed on the second side of the base plate, wherein the base plate defines an opening therethrough, and the second optical cavity is configured to receive beams from the first optical cavity through the opening.   
     
     
         26 . The laser resonator of  claim 25 , further comprising the plurality of beam emitters received within the mounting area. 
     
     
         27 . The laser resonator of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the beam emitters is a diode bar configured to emit a plurality of discrete beams. 
     
     
         28 . The laser resonator of  claim 25 , further comprising one or more first optical elements disposed within the first optical cavity. 
     
     
         29 . The laser resonator of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more first optical elements comprise a plurality of collimation lenses and/or a plurality of reflectors. 
     
     
         30 . The laser resonator of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more first optical elements comprise a plurality of slow-axis collimation lenses and a plurality of interleaver mirrors. 
     
     
         31 . The laser resonator of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more first optical elements comprise one or more folding mirrors. 
     
     
         32 . The laser resonator of  claim 25 , further comprising one or more second optical elements disposed within the second optical cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The laser resonator of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more second optical elements comprise (i) a dispersive element for combining a plurality of beams into a multi-wavelength beam, and (ii) a partially reflective output coupler for receiving the multi-wavelength beam from the dispersive element, transmitting a first portion of the multi-wavelength beam as an output beam, and reflecting a second portion of the multi-wavelength beam back toward the dispersive element. 
     
     
         34 . The laser resonator of  claim 33 , wherein the dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating. 
     
     
         35 . The laser resonator of  claim 33 , further comprising a beam output for outputting the output beam. 
     
     
         36 . The laser resonator of  claim 35 , wherein the beam output comprises a window or a coupler configured to connect to an optical fiber. 
     
     
         37 . The laser resonator of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more second optical elements comprise one or more folding mirrors. 
     
     
         38 . The laser resonator of  claim 25 , further comprising a beam output for outputting one or more beams manipulated within the first optical cavity and/or the second optical cavity. 
     
     
         39 . The laser resonator of  claim 38 , wherein the beam output comprises a window or a coupler configured to connect to an optical fiber. 
     
     
         40 . The laser resonator of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a liquid coolant cavity disposed beneath the mounting area and configured to receive liquid coolant therewithin;   a fluid inlet for supplying the liquid coolant to the liquid coolant cavity; and   a fluid outlet for receiving the liquid coolant from the liquid coolant cavity.   
     
     
         41 . The laser resonator of  claim 40 , further comprising a fluid reservoir configured to fit within the liquid coolant cavity and contain the liquid coolant. 
     
     
         42 . The laser resonator of  claim 40 , further comprising an isolation wall extending from the base plate and disposed between the liquid coolant cavity and the second optical cavity. 
     
     
         43 . The laser resonator of  claim 42 , wherein the isolation wall comprises a first material, the base plate comprises a second material, and the first and second materials are the same. 
     
     
         44 . The laser resonator of  claim 42 , wherein the isolation wall comprises a first material, the base plate comprises a second material, and the first and second materials are different. 
     
     
         45 .- 63 . (canceled)