Abstract: A high precision, high power laser-radar system whose output beamwidth can be varied from a divergent to a convergent mode thus allowing for target acquisition, its high precision tracking and ultimately its destruction is described. Essentially the invention comprises an optical detector and an optical transmitter consisting of a steerable, large diameter, coherently packed, single mode optical fibre bundle, one end of which is compacted and optically polished to act as the transmitting aperture of the said laser-radar system while the other end of the said fibre bundle is unbound, with each individual fibre, or a small group of such fibres being optically coupled to one of many laser pulse amplifiers forming a large array of such amplifiers required to produce the transmitted laser output pulse energy.

Abstract: A compact, powerful, single slab laser oscillator-amplifier system immersed in a high pressure gas which acts as a Raman shifting medium to shift the oscillator output wavelengths from the 1060-3000 nm range to the 1100-14000 nm range. The Raman shifting gas is conained within the casing (29) which also encloses a laser oscillator defined along the long axis of the slab laser medium (1) between dielectric mirror (2) and partially reflecting mirror (3). An electro-optic switch (7) is provided and slab (1) is pumped via a pump light source (22) while being cooled by Peltier stack (26). The slab also includes dielectric mirror (12) and anti-reflection coating (13) which act in conjunction with the slab laser medium (1) and the mirrored substrate (10) to form the amplifier portion of the system. Light passed from the oscillator through prism (4) is reflected by bevelled portion (9) of mirror (10) and directed to slab (1) where it is amplified and reflected by mirror (12).

Abstract: This invention relates to a modular, interconnecting component optical fibre based communication system with coherent and incoherent optical signals from local area networks being converted into laser signals at either end of long-haul land or submarine cables incorporating laser amplifier repeaters, connecting said networks. The invention can accommodate both amplitude and frequency modulation signal transmission and detection. The invention has applications in high data transfer rates between local, national and international communication centers and can be utilized in vehicles where system weight and data rate capabilities are important.