CPC H01S 5/4075 (2013.01) [G02B 26/04 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
1. A laser apparatus for emitting a train of laser pulses along a single optical path towards a target, the laser apparatus comprising:
an array of laser devices LD(i) where i=1, . . . , n under individual fire control for emitting laser pulses, said array of laser devices including:
a trailing laser device LD(1) remotest from the target, and
at least one laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . , n between said trailing laser device and the target,
wherein the laser device of said at least one laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . , n is configured to emit laser pulses along an optical axis OA(i) where i=2, . . . , n,
wherein at least one of the optical axis OA(i) where i=2, . . . , n intercepts the single optical path and is not co-axial with the single optical path;
a motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement for continuously rotating a laser pulse reflector LPR(i) associated with each said laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . , n around a rotation axis offset by a radius R from the single optical path at a uniform angular velocity ω for reflecting laser pulses along the single optical path toward the target; and
a controller synchronized with said motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement for individually firing each said laser device of said array of laser devices for emitting a train of laser pulses reaching the target without obstruction by said motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement,
wherein each laser pulse reflector LPR(i) associated with each said laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . n, has an arcuate shape having a leading edge and a trailing edge with respect to an intended direction of rotation, the leading edge and trailing edge defining an arc length AL which satisfies the following: AL is greater than or equal to ωτR+D, where τ is a pulse width of the laser pulses, and D is a laser pulse diameter.
|