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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

High extraction efficiency cylindrical ring resonator

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5512551
An annular ring resonator for a high-energy laser is described having high extraction efficiency, and comprising: a conical rear mirror; a scraper mirror; a first axicon positioned to receive a generally cylindrical beam from the scraper mirror, and to produce and expanded annular beam to pass through an annular gain region to the conical rear mirror; a second axicon, in opposing position to the first axicon, for receiving an annular beam reflected from the conical rear mirror, and producing a generally cylindrical compacted beam for transmission to the scraper mirror, wherein the scraper mirror has an aperture to pass a return beam for transmission to the first axicon; and optical means for transmitting the compacted beam from the second axicon to the scraper mirror and from the scraper mirror to the first axicon; whereby the annular beam makes two passes through the gain region, and the combination of two types of axicons and the conical mirror has substantially no net effect on polarization.
Assignee:
TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4598408
OSTI ID:
5512551
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English