Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for formation of multiple separate light spots with adjustable intensity due to lossless redistribution of the light energy between the separate spots, and with a variable geometry of the multi-spot pattern; advantageously, for laser processing of materials by focusing the laser radiation on a workpiece. The multi-spot pattern is created due to angular polarization splitting of the light beam into several beamlets using a beam splitter and further focusing these beamlets onto a workpiece by a focusing optical system, advantageously by the scanning focusing optics. The beam splitter can include optical birefringent prisms, prism groups and waveplates capable to operate simultaneously at two different wavelengths. Some of these optical elements are rotatable, and their rotations are used for lossless redistribution of light energy between the spots and for a change in the geometric shape of the multi-spot patterns.

Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for formation of multiple separate light spots with adjustable intensity due to lossless redistribution of the light energy between the separate spots, and with a variable geometry of the multi-spot pattern; advantageously, for laser processing of materials by focusing the laser radiation on a workpiece. The multi-spot pattern is created due to angular polarization splitting of the light beam into several beamlets using a beam splitter and further focusing these beamlets onto a workpiece by a focusing optical system, advantageously by the scanning focusing optics. The beam splitter can include optical birefringent prisms, prism groups and waveplates capable to operate simultaneously at two different wavelengths. Some of these optical elements are rotatable, and their rotations are used for lossless redistribution of light energy between the spots and for a change in the geometric shape of the multi-spot patterns.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatus for laser processing of transparent or partially transparent materials by focusing laser radiation on a surface of a material workpiece or inside the material workpiece and creating elongated processed regions with variable and controlled depth using focusing optical system with air-spaced optical components, forming three or more multiple focuses along the optical axis and compensating aberrations induced while light focusing inside the material workpiece. The focusing optical system can have an aplanatic design, with lenses made from birefringent materials combined with lenses from isotropic materials, or objectives, or zoom optical system, or waveplates.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatus for laser processing of transparent or partially transparent materials by focusing laser radiation on a surface of a material workpiece or inside the material workpiece and creating elongated processed regions with variable and controlled depth using focusing optical system with air-spaced optical components, forming three or more multiple focuses along the optical axis and compensating aberrations induced while light focusing inside the material workpiece. The focusing optical system can have an aplanatic design, with lenses made from birefringent materials combined with lenses from isotropic materials, or objectives, or zoom optical system, or waveplates.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices and systems and methods for microscopy and optical data storage in transparent media, as well as for laser material processing of transparent or semi-transparent materials. Optics for diffraction limited focusing inside transparent or semi-transparent media comprising aplanatic focusing optical system and positive meniscus lens where reciprocal positions of the components and a transparent medium are optimized with criterion of minimized aberration providing diffraction limited internal focusing at a given depth inside the said transparent medium. For modern high resolution microscopy the optical components have achromatic and apochromatic optical designs. Immersion in space between the meniscus lens and the transparent material is used to increase the system numerical aperture.

Abstract: Beam shaping methods, systems, devices and apparatus to provide transformation of a TEM00 beam which intensity distribution is described by the Gaussian or similar functions to a focused spot of round or square shape with uniform intensity distribution achieved through introducing in the TEM00 beam a phase shift function with smooth phase transition and further focusing of the transformed beam; the resulting intensity distributions are created around the focal plane of a focusing optical system. The phase shift function is introduced by a phase transforming optical system implemented in apparatuses of the invention in form of a plate, or a telescope, or a collimator, or integrated to the focusing optical system: the phase transforming optical system including an aspheric optical surface providing the phase shift function with smooth phase transition. As a focusing optical system any diffraction limited optics with positive dioptric power can be applied.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are disclosed that deliver an analyte deposited on a substrate to a mass spectrometer that provides for trace analysis of complex organic analytes. Analytes are probed using a small droplet of solvent that is formed at the junction between two capillaries. A supply capillary maintains the droplet of solvent on the substrate; a collection capillary collects analyte desorbed from the surface and emits analyte ions as a focused spray to the inlet of a mass spectrometer for analysis. The invention enables efficient separation of desorption and ionization events, providing enhanced control over transport and ionization of the analyte.

Abstract: An achromatic refractive beam shaping optical system that transforms the intensity distribution of a light beam, preferably provides transformation of a beam which intensity distribution described by Gaussian function to a beam of uniform intensity. The system consists of at least two lens groups, one of lens groups is made from at least two lenses having different characteristics, of spectral dispersion, thus achromatic for a certain spectral range optical design providing zero or negligible for practical applications wave aberration is realized. By choosing parameters of lens groups the system can be realized as a telescope of Galilean or Keplerian type, or as a collimator, or as an objective lens. To provide adjustment features one lens group of the system is movable along the optical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are disclosed that deliver an analyte deposited on a substrate to a mass spectrometer that provides for trace analysis of complex organic analytes. Analytes are probed using a small droplet of solvent that is formed at the junction between two capillaries. A supply capillary maintains the droplet of solvent on the substrate; a collection capillary collects analyte desorbed from the surface and emits analyte ions as a focused spray to the inlet of a mass spectrometer for analysis. The invention enables efficient separation of desorption and ionization events, providing enhanced control over transport and ionization of the analyte.

Abstract: An achromatic refractive beam shaping optical system that transforms the intensity distribution of a light beam, preferably provides transformation of a beam which intensity distribution described by Gaussian function to a beam of uniform intensity. The system consists of at least two lens groups, one of lens groups is made from at least two lenses having different characteristics, of spectral dispersion, thus achromatic for a certain spectral range optical design providing zero or negligible for practical applications wave aberration is realized. By choosing parameters of lens groups the system can be realized as a telescope of Galilean or Keplerian type, or as a collimator, or as an objective lens. To provide adjustment features one lens group of the system is movable along the optical axis.