Method and apparatus for compensating for wave front distortion in a slab laser

摘要

An optically pumped slab laser includes a solid-state lasing medium having a longitudinally extending lasing axis. A lamp is disposed proximate the lasing medium for emitting optical pumping radiation, and a reflector surrounds the lamp for directing the radiation at selected portions of the lasing medium. A fluid coolant is flowed across a major surface of the lasing medium to remove heat therefrom. The lasing medium exhibits a typical negative focal power lens effect distortion in portions proximate its lateral edges. The reflector is shaped to introduce a positive lens effect distortion, equal in magnitude to the negative lens effect distortion, to a central portion of the lasing medium between the lateral edge portions. External reflectors are positioned so as to direct a subsequently generated laser beam through alternate regions exhibiting the positive and negative focal power lens effect distortions, so that the beam subsequently exits the slab laser with no net distortion.