JPH0427181A - Q-switch laser device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a Q-switch laser oscillation device generating high output by means of shortening a length of a resonator and arranging a plurality of stages of laser heads by providing the Q-switch element between a resonator mirror of one side of an optical resonator and an excitation mirror and the excitation means and arranging condensers in the positions to be irradiated by convergent light on the reflection surfaces of the respective resonator mirrors. CONSTITUTION:Condenser 7, 8 are provided in front of a high reflecting mirror 4 and an output mirror 5 respectively in optical deflection axis optical path. That is, laser media 1 are excited and laser light radially outgoing from the laser media 1 end faces are as much as possible reflected at the high reflection mirror 4 or an output mirror 5 by the condenser 7, 8 to increases a quantity returning to the laser media 1 in order to enlarge laser output. Thereby, in the case of a lengthened resonator length by arranging the Q-switch element 7, big output can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a Q-switched laser oscillation device arranged in multiple stages.

(Prior Art) Solid-state lasers, typified by YAG lasers, are being used for various processing as their output becomes higher and higher, and are applied to cutting steel plates and the like in the same way as carbon dioxide laser oscillators. In order to increase the output power of this solid-state laser, as shown in Fig. 2, an excitation lamp (2
), and a plurality of so-called laser head parts (la), (ab) whose main elements are cooling means (not shown) are provided, and these laser head parts (la), (3
b) is arranged in an optical resonator consisting of a high reflection mirror (4) and an output mirror (5) on both end sides, and for example, an output mirror (5).
A configuration is known in which a Q-switch element (6) consisting of an acousto-optic (AO) element is arranged between the laser head part (3a) and the laser head part (3a), and the output is amplified by the laser head parts (3a) and (3b). .

(Problem to be solved by the invention) When multiple stages of laser heads (3a) and (3b) are provided, the distance between the high reflection mirror (4) or the output mirror (5) and the laser medium (1) is determined by L. , the distance between the laser media (1) will be 2L since a symmetrical shape with a temporary resonator mirror provided at the laser medium level is desirable. Therefore, since the Q-switch element (6) is provided, the distance between the high-reflection mirror (4) and the laser medium (1) becomes long, so the overall length, that is, the high-reflection mirror (4) The resonator length, which is the distance between Since the amount of light that is reflected and returned to the laser medium (1) and amplified is reduced, it has become difficult to obtain high output.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a Q-switched laser oscillation device that can obtain high output by shortening the resonator length and arranging laser heads in multiple stages.

[Structure of the invention] (Means and effects for solving the problem) A laser head section having a laser medium and an excitation means for the laser medium is arranged in one or more stages in series between a pair of optical resonators, and the above-mentioned method is implemented. In a Q-switched laser device in which a Q-switched element is provided between one resonator mirror of an optical resonator and the excitation means, a condenser lens is arranged at a position to irradiate convergent light onto a reflective surface of each resonator mirror. As a result, even if the resonator length becomes long, a large oscillated laser output can be obtained.

(Example) EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, this invention will be explained based on drawing which shows an Example.

Note that parts common to those in FIG. 2 will be described with the same reference numerals. That is, in Fig. 1, the difference from Fig. 2 is that condenser lenses (7) and (8) are provided in front of the high-reflection mirror (4) and the output mirror (5), respectively, in the resonant axis path. That's true. That is, the laser medium (1) is excited and the laser light emitted radially from the end face of the laser medium (1) is directed to the condenser lens (7).

According to (8), the laser output is increased by reflecting as much as possible on the high reflection mirror (4) or the output mirror (5) and increasing the amount that returns to the laser medium (1). For this reason, Q
Even when the resonator length is increased by disposing a switch element, a large output can be obtained.

Although the above embodiment shows an example in which two stages of laser heads are provided, three or more stages or one stage may be used, and as the number of stages increases, the rate of increase in laser output with respect to the resonator length improves.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, since the optical system that efficiently amplifies the laser light emitted from the excited laser medium by the laser medium is arranged, even the resonator, which has become longer due to the arrangement of the Q-switch element, can be easily amplified. We were able to obtain a large laser output.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional example. (3a), (3b)...Laser head (4)
・High reflective mirror (5) ・・Output mirror (6) ・・Q switch element

Claims (1)

[Claims] A laser head section having a laser medium and excitation means for the laser medium is arranged in one or more stages in series between a pair of optical resonators, and between a resonator mirror of one of the optical resonators and the excitation means. 1. A Q-switched laser device including a Q-switched element in a Q-switched laser device, characterized in that a condenser lens is disposed at a position for irradiating convergent light onto the reflective surface of each of the resonator mirrors.