Abstract: A variety of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) apparatuses are described herein that combine a plurality of individual input beams into a single output beam. DWBC apparatuses contemplated herein are open-loop configurations, i.e. configurations where the wavelength selective optics of a feedback generation system are decoupled from abeam combining system that combines a plurality of input beams each having a wavelength selected from a range of different wavelengths. Specifically, each constituent beam of the combined output beam produced by the beam combining system traverses an optical path that does not include the wavelength-selective optics of the feedback generation system. DWBC apparatuses contemplated herein further provide for matching the wavelength-dependent angular dispersion functions of optics of the feedback generation system with the wavelength-dependent angular dispersion functions of optics of the beam combining system.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective external resonators can be used to greatly increase the output brightness of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) system beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the individual emitters of the DWBC laser source. The present invention pertains to external resonant cavities that utilize thin-film filtering elements as wavelength-selective elements in external resonators. The present invention further pertains to particular embodiments that utilize thin-film filtering elements in DWBC systems as both output beam coupling elements and wavelength selective elements. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art that include decreased cost, increased fidelity of wavelength selection, and increased wall plug efficiency.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: An external cavity laser apparatus includes a plurality of laser modules collectively including a plurality of beam emitters that collectively emit a plurality of emitted beams. Each laser module includes a base comprising a plurality of stepped platforms, one of the plurality of beam emitters being secured on each platform of the plurality of stepped platforms, and a plurality of module reflectors, one of the plurality of module reflectors being secured on each of the plurality of stepped platforms to receive radiation from a respective one of the plurality of beam emitters located on a same stepped platform. The external cavity laser apparatus further includes an angular dispersive optic and a polarized beam splitter.

Abstract: An external cavity laser apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is provided. The external cavity laser apparatus includes a plurality of beam emitters that collectively emit a plurality of emitted beams that each includes a primary component emitted beam. A first reflective element is configured to reflect the plurality of primary component emitted beams and a first polarizing optic disposed in the optical path of the plurality of primary component emitted beams is configured to rotate a polarization of each primary component emitted beam to produce a first rotated primary component beam having a first linear polarization and a second rotated primary component beam having a second linear polarization. A polarized beam splitter is configured to direct first feedback system output component beams into an output beam, and to direct second feedback system output component beams to the plurality of beam emitters as feedback beams.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in dense wavelength multiplexing (DWM) systems. Systems and methods are described for performing beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in DWM systems while achieving increased wall-plug efficiency and enhanced beam quality. Interferometric external resonator configurations can be used to greatly increase the brightness of DWM system output beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the emitters of the DWM laser source. The resonant cavities described by the present disclosure provide advantages over the prior art in the form of decreased cost, increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality. Particular implementations of the disclosure achieve increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality through a combination of innovative cavity designs and the utilization of reflection diffraction elements for beam combining.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: A fiber coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibers arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fiber core and a fiber cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fiber core to the diameter of the fiber cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fiber to the diameter of the fiber core, increases in the first direction for each optical fiber.

Abstract: An external cavity laser apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is provided. The external cavity laser apparatus includes a plurality of beam emitters that collectively emit a plurality of emitted beams that each includes a primary component emitted beam. A first reflective element is configured to reflect the plurality of primary component emitted beams and a first polarizing optic disposed in the optical path of the plurality of primary component emitted beams is configured to rotate a polarization of each primary component emitted beam to produce a first rotated primary component beam having a first linear polarization and a second rotated primary component beam having a second linear polarization. A polarized beam splitter is configured to direct first feedback system output component beams into an output beam, and to direct second feedback system output component beams to the plurality of beam emitters as feedback beams.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in dense wavelength multiplexing (DWM) systems. Systems and methods are described for performing beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in DWM systems while achieving increased wall-plug efficiency and enhanced beam quality. Interferometric external resonator configurations can be used to greatly increase the brightness of DWM system output beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the emitters of the DWM laser source. The resonant cavities described by the present disclosure provide advantages over the prior art in the form of decreased cost, increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality. Particular implementations of the disclosure achieve increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality through a combination of innovative cavity designs and the utilization of reflection diffraction elements for beam combining.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective external resonators can be used to greatly increase the output brightness of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) system beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the individual emitters of the DWBC laser source. The present invention pertains to external resonant cavities that utilize thin-film filtering elements as wavelength-selective elements in external resonators. The present invention further pertains to particular embodiments that utilize thin-film filtering elements in DWBC systems as both output beam coupling elements and wavelength selective elements. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art that include decreased cost, increased fidelity of wavelength selection, and increased wall plug efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in dense wavelength multiplexing (DWM) systems. Systems and methods are described for performing beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in DWM systems while achieving increased wall-plug efficiency and enhanced beam quality. Interferometric external resonator configurations can be used to greatly increase the brightness of DWM system output beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the emitters of the DWM laser source. The resonant cavities described by the present disclosure provide advantages over the prior art in the form of decreased cost, increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality. Particular implementations of the disclosure achieve increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality through a combination of innovative cavity designs and the utilization of reflection diffraction elements for beam combining.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective external resonators can be used to greatly increase the output brightness of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) system beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the individual emitters of the DWBC laser source. The present invention pertains to external resonant cavities that utilize thin-film filtering elements as wavelength-selective elements in external resonators. The present invention further pertains to particular embodiments that utilize thin-film filtering elements in DWBC systems as both output beam coupling elements and wavelength selective elements. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art that include decreased cost, increased fidelity of wavelength selection, and increased wall plug efficiency.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective external resonators can be used to greatly increase the output brightness of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) system beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the individual emitters of the DWBC laser source. The present invention pertains to external resonant cavities that utilize thin-film filtering elements as wavelength-selective elements in external resonators. The present invention further pertains to particular embodiments that utilize thin-film filtering elements in DWBC systems as both output beam coupling elements and wavelength selective elements. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art that include decreased cost, increased fidelity of wavelength selection, and increased wall plug efficiency.

Abstract: A fibre coupler is provided, which includes a tubular enveloping structure and several optical fibres arranged in the enveloping structure, each of which has a fibre core and a fibre cladding surrounding same, in order to conduct laser radiation, and each of which extends from the first as far as the second end of the enveloping structure. The enveloping structure includes a tapering section which is tapered in a first direction from the first as far as the second end. In the tapering section, both a first ratio of the diameter of the fibre core to the diameter of the fibre cladding and also a second ratio of the diameter of the mode field of the laser radiation conducted in the optical fibre to the diameter of the fibre core, increases in the first direction for each optical fibre.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in dense wavelength multiplexing (DWM) systems. Systems and methods are described for performing beam wavelength stabilization and output beam combining in DWM systems while achieving increased wall-plug efficiency and enhanced beam quality. Interferometric external resonator configurations can be used to greatly increase the brightness of DWM system output beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the emitters of the DWM laser source. The resonant cavities described by the present disclosure provide advantages over the prior art in the form of decreased cost, increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality. Particular implementations of the disclosure achieve increased wall plug efficiency and increased output beam quality through a combination of innovative cavity designs and the utilization of reflection diffraction elements for beam combining.

Abstract: A laser resonator arrangement includes multiple glass optical components, and a glass carrier plate, in which at least one of the optical components is secured to the carrier plate by at least one laser welding connection or is secured to the carrier plate through an intermediate glass element, in which the intermediate glass element is connected to both the at least one optical component and to the carrier plate by at least one laser welding connection.

Abstract: A gas-cooled laser device includes heat dissipative components, and housing walls made of a heat conducting material, in which one or more of the housing walls are provided with ventilation channels. At least one heat dissipative component is mounted on a plate of a heat conducting material, and the heat conducting plate is connected in a thermally conducting manner with the at least one housing wall that is provided with ventilation channels. The heat dissipative components can include heat dissipative optical components and heat dissipative non-optical components that are respectively arranged on different sides of the plate or are respectively arranged in different compartments on one side of the plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for generating a pulse train having several individual pulses, wherein the individual pulses have a desired pulse characteristic, by means of a Q-switched solid state laser system, which includes, e.g., a modulator for influencing the pulse characteristic of the individual pulses.

Abstract: An electro-optical hybrid connection assembly provides an optical connection of at least a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber that define a fiber axis and an electrical connection of at least a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first ferrule that encloses the first optical fiber, a centering sleeve surrounding the first ferrule and projecting beyond at least one end of the first ferrule, and at least one electrical plug-in contact connected to the first electrical conductor. The second connector includes a second ferrule enclosing the second optical fiber, and at least one electrical plug-in contact connected to the second electrical conductor. Each of the two optical fibers has a plane fiber end aligned at right angles to the fiber axis and provided with an anti-reflection coating.