Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, an ultra short pulse system comprises a laser platform which includes an optical source configured to generate an optical pulse, an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical pulse, and a compressor configured to temporally compress the amplified optical pulse. The ultra short pulse system further comprises monitor circuitry configured to monitor one or more performance aspects of the laser platform. Additionally, the ultra short pulse system may comprise logic configured to control the one or more performance aspects of the laser platform in response to at least the monitored one or more performance aspects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for laser based processing of layered materials. Methods may include selectively adjusting ultrafast laser output of an ultrafast laser device based upon one or more physical attributes of a layer of the layered material, applying the ultrafast laser output of the ultrafast laser device to the layer of the layered material along a tool path to ablate the layer along the tool path, and then re-executing the steps to ablate one or more additional layers, the re-execution occurring for each distinct layer of the layered material that is to be ablated.

Abstract: A laser ablation method and apparatus uses a laser device to generate a pulsed laser using a laser device and to project the pulsed laser onto an ablation target to be ablated. A probe is then used to measure an indicative property of the ablation target or of the pulsed laser projected on the ablation target. A control loop is used to optimize ablation effect by generating a feedback signal according to the measured indicative property, sending the feedback signal to a control unit, and adjusting an output parameter of the pulsed laser according to the feedback signal. The measured indicative property may be a size of the laser beam spot or a material composition. The ablation, the feedback and the adjustment may be performed dynamically.

Abstract: Removing material from the surface of a first circuit comprises generating a first laser pulse using a pulse generator; targeting a spot on the first circuit using a focusing component; delivering the first laser pulse to the spot on the first circuit, the first circuit including a digital component; ablating material from the spot using the first laser pulse without changing a state of the digital component; testing performance of the first circuit, the testing being performed without reinitializing the circuit between the steps of ablating material and testing performance. Targeting the spot on the first circuit comprises generating a second laser pulse using a pulse generator; delivering a second laser pulse to a sacrificial piece of material; detecting the position of the ablation caused by the second laser pulse with a vision system that forms an image; and using this image to guide the first laser to the spot.

Abstract: An apparatus for athermal ablation of a workpiece. The apparatus may include a laser device to direct a laser beam at the workpiece to remove a plurality of sections from the workpiece by athermal ablation. The removal may occur in a plurality of discrete motions that cause the laser beam to trace along outer perimeters of the sections in a specific order maintaining mechanical stability of the plurality of sections. The apparatus may further include a process gas nozzle to deliver process gas coaxially with the laser beam to clear debris and cool the workpiece, and a workpiece holder to hold and maneuver the workpiece during the removal of the plurality of sections.

Abstract: Methods of and devices for forming edge chamfers and through holes and slots on a material that is machined using a laser, such as an ultrafast laser. The shaped material has predetermined and highly controllable geometric shape and/or surface morphology. Further, a method of and a device for preventing re-deposition of the particles on a material that is machined using a laser, such as an ultrafast laser. A fluid is used to wash off the particles generated during the laser machining process. The fluid can be in a non-neutral condition, with one or more chemical salts added, or a condition allowing the coagulation of the particles in the fluid, such that the particles can be precipitated to avoid the reattachment to the machined substrate.

Abstract: The method of and device for cutting brittle materials with tailored edge shape and roughness are disclosed. The methods can include directing one or more tools to a portion of brittle material causing separation of the material into two or more portions, where the as-cut edge has a predetermined and controllable geometric shape and/or surface morphology. The one or more tools can comprise energy (e.g., a femtosecond laser beam or acoustic beam) delivered to the material without making a physical contact.

Abstract: A chirped pulse amplification (CPA) system comprises an optical pulse stretcher and an optical pulse compressor that are mismatched in that the optical pulse compressor includes a bulk optical grating while the optical pulse stretcher does not. High order dispersion compensation is provided by an optical phase mask disposed within the optical pulse compressor.

Abstract: A hybrid waveguide device includes a hollow core fiber having a core formed by a combination of solid material and gases. The hybrid nature of the core allows the hybrid device to transport a high energy high power laser beam having an ultra-short pulse width without damage to the hybrid device due to a higher tolerance of irradiance than single-matter cores. A waveguide device having a core with gases in addition to solid matter is characterized by a lower nonlinear refractive index coefficient (n2), lower numerical aperture, larger delivering laser beam size, and higher ionization potential of the gases. As a result, the hybrid waveguide fiber can transport ultra-short laser pulses having ablative energy levels and power levels, for example from a laser generating subassembly to a laser material-modification subassembly.

Abstract: An optical signal control system is constructed from a portion of a material and allows for controlled amount of negative dispersion to be generated across a broadband input signal. The block may be made of a single portion of the material and have surfaces with reflective, transmissive, and/or diffractive optical characteristics. By adjusting the physical dimensions of the block substrate and the line pitch of a diffraction grating etched into a surface of the block, the magnitude of the dispersion can be varied. Laser systems that utilize the optical signal control system may have reduced size and weight as compared to existing compressors and be more robust against misalignment.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method of surgical ablative material removal “in-vivo” or from an outside surface with a short optical pulse that is amplified and compressed using either an optically-pumped-amplifier and air-path between gratings compressor combination or a SOA and chirped fiber compressor combination, wherein the generating, amplifying and compressing are done within a portable system.

Abstract: The present invention comprises, in various embodiments, systems and methods for shutting down a laser system in an intelligent and flexible manner. An intelligent laser interlock system includes both hardwired components, and intelligent components configured to execute computing instructions. The hardwired components and the intelligent components are configured to shutdown the laser system to one or more alternative shutdown states in response to one or more interlock signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing ultra-short optical pulses are provided. According to various embodiments, optical pulses are generated, stretched, amplified, and compressed to ultra-short lengths. In order to achieve the ultra-short lengths, dispersion compensation is provided prior to amplification and optionally before compression. Dispersion compensation prior to amplification can be performed by passing the optical pulses through a polarization-maintaining fiber that includes a nonlinear Bragg grating. In some embodiments, the optical pulses are repeatedly circulated through the polarization-maintaining fiber that includes the nonlinear Bragg grating. Dispersion compensation before compression can be achieved by passing the amplified optical pulse through another length of polarization-maintaining fiber.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for trimming electronic circuits using short laser pulses of near-infrared wavelength at a high repetition rate. The laser pulses ablate material from a spot on a circuit with minimal thermal and photoelectric disturbances to circuit performance. Minimal disturbance to circuit performance allows for repeated trimming and testing without pausing for circuit reinitialization. To optimize trimming, the laser pulses can also be adjusted responsive to the composition of the material ablated. In some embodiments, the system is configured to trim a plurality of circuits in parallel.

Abstract: A chirped pulse amplification (CPA) system and method is described wherein the dispersion of the system is tuned by actively tuning one or more system components, for example, using a temperature or strain gradient, or using actinic radiation. In other embodiments, an additional element, such as a modulator, is added to the CPA system to actively to tune the pulse. A pulse monitor is added to the system to measure an output pulse and provide feedback to one or more active tuning elements.

Abstract: A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system is described comprising controlling an optical power within the ultra-short pulse system and control-system controlling a width of an optical pulse. In some embodiments, the method also comprises tuning a compressor by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a Bragg grating to control the width of the optical pulse output from the compressor. In other embodiments, the method may comprise tuning a multi-pass stretcher by controlling a number of passes of the optical pulse through a loop of the multi-pass stretcher to control the width of the optical pulse output from the multi-pass stretcher. A method of controlling an ultra-short pulse system may also comprise accessing a control system from a remotely located command station, communicating status information from the control system to the command station, and communicating information from the command station to the control system.

Abstract: A chirped pulse amplification system includes one or more polarization compensator configured to compensate for polarization altering elements with the chirped pulse amplification system. The polarization compensator is responsive to a sensor configured to provide feedback to the polarization compensator. In some embodiments, the chirped pulse amplification system further includes a controller configured to automatically adjust the polarization compensator responsive to the sensor. The sensor is optionally a power sensor.

Abstract: An ultra-short pulsed laser system comprises an optical combiner, optical amplifier, optical pulse compressor, and optical separator. The optical combiner is configured to combine a primary optical pulse with a secondary optical signal to generate a combined optical signal. The primary optical pulse and the secondary optical signal have a distinguishable characteristic. The optical amplifier is configured to optically amplify the combined optical signal. The optical pulse compressor is configured to compress at least the primary optical pulse contained within the optically amplified combined optical signal and output a compressed combined optical signal. The optical separator is configured to separate the compressed combined optical signal into an output primary optical pulse and an output secondary optical signal according to the distinguishable characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method of surgical ablative material removal “in-vivo” or from an outside surface with a short optical pulse that is amplified and compressed using either an optically-pumped-amplifier and air-path between gratings compressor combination or a SOA and chirped fiber compressor combination, wherein the generating, amplifying and compressing are done within a portable system.

Abstract: The present invention generally concerns the use of Bragg optical fibers in chirped pulse amplification systems for the production of high-pulse-energy ultrashort optical pulses. A gas-core Bragg optical fiber waveguide can be advantageously used in such systems to stretch the duration of pulses so that they can be amplified, and/or Bragg fibers can be used to compress optical signals into much shorter duration pulses after they have been amplified. Bragg fibers can also function as near-zero-dispersion delay lines in amplifier sections.