Importance

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Abstract

A fluid laser having a flow channel between fluid inlet and active lasing regions and in which medium heating and resulting medium disturbances are reduced by minimizing channel wall and window heating in the area of the channel bordering the window seal. The channel wall includes a bevelled portion exterior of the channel and having a highly reflective surface immediately adjacent a window. The resulting thinning of the channel wall immediately adjacent the window reduces the absorption in the window seal region of reflected flashlamp light and of dye fluorescence light originating from within the flow channel, and the highly reflective surface reflects away from the window seal region the dye fluorescent light and reflected lamp light. Polished edge surfaces on the window also refract away from the window seal region the dye fluorescent light and reflected light passing through the window/air interface. A cooled absorbing surface in a confronting spaced relationship with the highly reflective surface acts to absorb and conduct away from the channel wall the reflected and refracted lamplight and dye fluorescent light. A baffle shields this surface from flashlamp light. The reduction in channel wall heating produces a more homogeneous medium which contributes to better laser beam quality.

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First Claim