Movement and focus control system for a high-energy laser

摘要

An alignment laser and cooperative optics are operable to produce sensor images of the cavity mirrors of a high-energy laser system. Means are disclosed responsive to the centroids of the sensor images for providing real-time closed-loop pointing direction control. Means are disclosed responsive to the size of the sensor images for providing real- time closed-loop focus control. A lens system cooperative with the alignment laser and the cavity mirrors is disclosed for establishing and maintaining the alignment laser in a collimated state when illuminating the sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity mirrors are configured as a confocal unstable laser resonator.