Abstract: This system and method for mounting lenses in lens cells a lens with an annular groove around its peripheral edge and a polygonal mounting clip formed from spring wire with at least two contiguous apexes and a non-contiguous apex such that it is biased towards closure. The mounting clip is nested in the annular groove, forcing the non-contiguous apex open. The lens is firmly held by the mounting clip and transversely extending mounting extensions at each apex are inserted into properly spaced wells in a face of a lens cell body to hold the lens in position over an aperture. An alignment chuck with a lens rest positionable with respect to a lens cell body rest is used to position the lens at the proper height above the lens cell body. The alignment chuck is then spun to align the lens optical axis with the alignment axis of the cell body. After this, the wells serve as reservoirs for a cement or other bonding materials to firmly affix the lens in its clip in perfect position with respect to the lens cell body.

Abstract: A reflaxicon system comprising two or more reflaxicons, either, neither, or both of which can be formed of solid light transmitting material, is provided and described for use and implementation as objectives, relays, and beam expanders. Each reflaxicon features a central substantially cone shaped surface and a distal surface shaped like a truncated cone with both of said surfaces aligned with and symmetrically arranged around a central axis. In the system provided said central axes are aligned and form the optical axis of the system and further curvatures can be provided to any of said surfaces as well as to incident and exiting system surfaces to provide additional optical effects as required for different applications. Further, the conical surfaces forming the central reflectors can each or both be convex or concave, with ease of construction mitigating in favor of dual concave central reflectors as the preferred embodiment.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-laser system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the multi-laser system includes a plurality of lasers, a plurality of laser beams, a beam positioning system, a thermally stable enclosure, and a temperature controller. The thermally stable enclosure is substantially made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as at least 5 W/(m K). The thermally stable enclosure can help maintain alignment of the laser beams to a target object over a range of ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an optical system for directing light for optical measurements such laser-induced fluorescence and spectroscopic analysis are disclosed. In some embodiments, the optical system includes a thermally conductive housing and a thermoelectric controller, a plurality of optical fibers, and one or more optical elements to direct light emitted by the optical fibers to illuminate a flow cell. The housing is configured to attach to a flow cell.

Abstract: A rotor magnet driven optical shutter assembly with a permanent magnet rotor directly connected to and driving the rotation of an optical shutter blade, to alternately block or allow transmission of light through the shutter aperture. The rotor is cylindrical with optional center hole, is magnetized across its diameter, and rotates around a pivot bearing coaxial with its center axis. A stator is arranged around the rotor and is shaped so that, as the rotor rotates over its range of travel, the flux through the electromagnet drive coil core varies in magnitude and direction. A drive current through the electromagnet drive coil thus induces a torque to the rotor, to open or close the shutter blade. By driving the electromagnet drive coil with a controlled current waveform, the shutter aperture may be opened or closed (either quickly or slowly), held open/closed, or moved to any intermediate position, as desired.

Abstract: This sliding track for optical apparatus provides a system for mounting and easily moving lens cells and/or other portions of an optical apparatus that are co-axially arranged with respect to an optical axis of the apparatus along said optical axis while maintaining axial alignment. It does so by positioning the lens cells on two linear precision rods placed parallel to the optical axis of the lens cells and optical apparatus. Low-friction plastic inserts are mounted to or in the moving lens cells so that they support said cells on the parallel rods and provide a low friction sliding contact that does not require lubrication. Low-friction plastic holding pads are mounted via springs to the moving cells and are biased against the opposite side of the parallel rods so as to hold the moving cells firmly in position against the parallel rods, but without hampering the cells from sliding smoothly along the rods.

Abstract: A diode-pumped solid-state laser including a short wavelength (e.g., blue, violet, or UV) semiconductor laser that pumps an absorption transition in a rare-earth-doped material. Responsive to this pumping, the rare-earth active ion directly emits laser radiation. A number of different wavelength outputs, including short wavelengths, are achievable dependent upon the material and the pump wavelength. The gain medium may include an active ion selected from Er3+ Sm3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Tm3+, Ho3+, and Pr3+. A laser diode pump source has a wavelength in the range of about 365 nm to 480 nm to excite a laser emission in the range of 370 to 800 nm. The laser diode pump source may comprise a GaN-based semiconductor. In some embodiments, the laser diode pump source supplies a pump beam in a range of 370–380 nm, 400–415 nm, 435–445 nm, or 468–478 nm.

Abstract: A laser includes a narrow bandwidth AR coating for defining a frequency range for laser emission within the laser cavity. Advantageously, the narrow-band AR coating has a very low loss, which can be particularly useful if the gain medium has low gain. The narrow-band AR coating can be used to narrow the laser emission from a broadband gain medium (e.g. Cr:LiSAF), or to select from among discrete transition lines (e.g. Nd:YAG) without the use of cumbersome tuning elements. An etalon may be utilized to further narrow the fundamental wavelength, and the etalon may be substantially uncoated. For a solid state gain medium, the AR coating may be formed on one of the optical faces. A nonlinear element may be included for frequency-conversion, and the AR coating constrains the lasing frequency in the presence of this nonlinear loss and assists in maintaining single frequency operation to provide a stable frequency-converted output.

Abstract: This sliding track for optical apparatus provides a system for mounting and easily moving lens cells and/or other portions of an optical apparatus that are co-axially arranged with respect to an optical axis of the apparatus along said optical axis while maintaining axial alignment. It does so by positioning the lens cells on two linear precision rods placed parallel to the optical axis of the lens cells and optical apparatus. Low-friction plastic inserts are mounted to or in the moving lens cells so that they support said cells on the parallel rods and provide a low friction sliding contact that does not require lubrication. Low-friction plastic holding pads are mounted via springs to the moving cells and are biased against the opposite side of the parallel rods so as to hold the moving cells firmly in position against the parallel rods, but without hampering the cells from sliding smoothly along the rods.

Abstract: An inexpensive, robust, and adhesive-free method and apparatus is disclosed for efficiently coupling first and second optical components together utilizing a flexure assembly for fine alignment. An initial three-dimensional rough alignment process positions the first and second optical components proximate to each other and aligns them in three dimensions. The first and second components are then misaligned by a fixed amount, causing a defocus, and then securely fastened together. The fine alignment process uses standard machine screws, or other easily attainable, robust tensioning means to progressively increase the tension around the periphery of the flexure assembly, which causes the flexure to bend and the second optical component to translate along the longitudinal axis of the flexure assembly and tilt with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flexure assembly, which re-focuses and three-dimensionally finely aligns the optical components for optimum coupling efficiency in a simple and secure manner.

Abstract: A low noise laser includes a birefringent gain crystal arranged so that polarization is not constant within the gain crystal. The gain crystal and an intracavity optical element each have a nonzero polarization retardance. The total single-pass retardance is approximately equal to an odd multiple of one-half wave; for example each may provide one quarter wave retardance. In one embodiment the optical element comprises a nonlinear crystal situated within the laser cavity for Type II frequency doubling. The principal crystal axis of the gain crystal is offset from the principal axis of the nonlinear crystal at an offset angle for example about 45°. In one embodiment a gain crystal and frequency-doubling crystal are coupled together to form a monolithic laser component. An alternative embodiment is described in which the optical element comprises a quarter-wave plate and the laser output includes substantially two linear polarizations at the fundamental wavelength.

Abstract: An efficient frequency-converted solid state laser that outputs a single beam utilizing an angled reflector situated within the laser cavity. The laser comprises an optical cavity including a first reflector and a second reflector. A gain medium situated within the optical cavity is energized by a pump source to excite a laser emission at a fundamental wavelength. A nonlinear material is arranged within the optical cavity to convert the laser emission to a second wavelength. The angled reflector, which is reflective of the second wavelength and transmissive of the first wavelength, is situated within the optical cavity between the first reflector and the nonlinear material. In operation, the forward-propagating converted beam is reflected from the second reflector, and then combines with the reverse-propagating converted beam. The angled reflector reflects the combined beam so that it exits from the optical cavity at a nonzero exit angle.

Abstract: An optically-pumped laser comprises a laser cavity, a solid-state gain medium and an optically transparent heat sink (OTH) situated within the laser cavity. The gain medium and OTH are thermally coupled and at least one of the solid-state gain medium and the OTH has an etalon structure thereby improving laser efficiency. The OTH advantageously provides effective heat transfer and permits higher average power operation, particularly for thin solid-state laser materials. A metallic heat sink may be thermally coupled to the OTH to improve heat transfer. In some embodiments, the laser is end-pumped with optical pump radiation through the OTH. A second intracavity OTH may be thermally coupled to the gain medium opposite the first OTH to provide longitudinal heat transfer in both directions. A frequency-converted laser may be provided by using a nonlinear material longitudinally cooled on each end by intracavity OTHs, at least one of which comprises an etalon structure.

Abstract: A multi-element refractive/diffractive lens system, especially useful in an interferometer of the Fizeau type for forming a partially reflective end of the cavity and focusing collimated laser light at a focus in the cavity, uses a plurality of lens elements all of which are plano concave or plano convex singlets and may be either spherical or cylindrical. The lens has a diffractive element which compensates for aberrations due to the refractive elements of the lens system and enables the lens system to be formed from relatively few refractive elements which are all plano-convex or plano-concave singlets thereby providing cost savings arising out of the reduction in the amount of glass material and number of lens elements. Since the lens system is especially suitable for use in a Fizeau type interferometer, it may be of the type called a Fizeau lens.

Abstract: A honeycomb tabletop, including a honeycomb core positioned between a top and bottom structural layer, wherein a number of cups are positioned between the bottom layer and the top layer, and at least some of the number of cups are sized and shaped to cooperate with the lower face of the top layer to form a cavity surrounding at least two of the plurality of holes in the top layer so that contaminants will be unable to pass through the surrounded holes into the honeycomb core. Preferably, these cups form a sealing engagement with the lower face of the top layer to facilitate rapid and thorough cleaning of contaminants from the cups.

Abstract: A honeycomb tabletop, including a honeycomb core positioned between a top and bottom structural layer, wherein a number of cups are positioned between the bottom layer and the top layer, and at least some of the number of cups are sized and shaped to cooperate with the lower face of the top layer to form a cavity surrounding at least two of the plurality of holes in the top layer so that contaminants will be unable to pass through the surrounded holes into the honeycomb core. Preferably, these cups form a sealing engagement with the lower face of the top layer to facilitate rapid and thorough cleaning of contaminants from the cups.