Abstract: An optical transceiver including an optical fiber ribbon, a housing permanently attached to the optical fiber ribbon, and an electrical connector extending from the housing. An electro/optical converter is disposed within the housing including an array of VCSELs and an array of photodiodes rigidly coupled to a ferrule supporting respective fibers of the fiber ribbon. A member is disposed on an outer surface of the housing adjacent the aperture that resists sharp bending of the optical fiber ribbon where the ribbon exits the housing through the aperture and blocks leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the housing.

Abstract: A method of operating a continuously pumped, Q-switched laser to provide trains of pulses for laser operations is disclosed. The laser includes a solid-state gain-medium that exhibits a thermal-lensing effect on being optically pumped. Pulse delivery is controlled by a Q-switch that is in a normally-open state when the laser is not delivering pulses. This allows the laser to deliver CW laser radiation when pulses are not being delivered. A train of pulses is delivered by repeatedly interrupting the CW operation by closing then reopening the Q-switch. When the Q-switch reopens after the interruption, the laser delivers a pulse of laser radiation, then resumes delivery of CW operation until the next interruption. The interruption periods may be varied to provide pulses of different peak power in a pulse train.

Abstract: A method of operating a continuously pumped, Q-switched laser to provide trains of pulses for laser operations is disclosed. The laser includes a solid-state gain-medium that exhibits a thermal-lensing effect on being optically pumped. Pulse delivery is controlled by a Q-switch that is in a normally-open state when the laser is not delivering pulses. This allows the laser to deliver CW laser radiation when pulses are not being delivered. A train of pulses is delivered by repeatedly interrupting the CW operation by closing then reopening the Q-switch. When the Q-switch reopens after the interruption, the laser delivers a pulse of laser radiation, then resumes delivery of CW operation until the next interruption. The inventive Q-switching method provides, by means of this one particular repeated Q-switch operation, that the thermal-lensing effect in the gain-medium before, during, and between delivery of pulse trains remains constant, and that all pulses in a pulse train have the same peak power.

Abstract: A method of operating a continuously pumped, Q-switched laser to provide trains of pulses for laser operations is disclosed. The laser includes a solid-state gain-medium that exhibits a thermal-lensing effect on being optically pumped. Pulse delivery is controlled by a Q-switch that is in a normally-open state when the laser is not delivering pulses. This allows the laser to deliver CW laser radiation when pulses are not being delivered. A train of pulses is delivered by repeatedly interrupting the CW operation by closing then reopening the Q-switch. When the Q-switch reopens after the interruption, the laser delivers a pulse of laser radiation, then resumes delivery of CW operation until the next interruption. The inventive Q-switching method provides, by means of this one particular repeated Q-switch operation, that the thermal-lensing effect in the gain-medium before, during, and between delivery of pulse trains remains constant, and that all pulses in a pulse train have the same peak power.